Kenya is considering the semiconductor industry's potential to aid the East African country's economy.

Yesterday, John Kipchumba Tanui, principal secretary at the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, met with Dr. Antony Githinji, CEO of Semiconductor Technologies Limited, to explore the sector's potential to drive Kenya’s digital economy.

The two also discussed the industry's progress since Kenya's recent designation as a US Technology Partner and inclusion as a beneficiary of the US CHIPS Act.

Kenya's interest in the semiconductor business comes as analysts forecast growth in the sector.

According to Deloitte's 2024 global semiconductor industry outlook, global sales in 2024 are expected to reach US$588 billion, which is 13% more than 2023 and 2.5% higher than the record industry revenues of US$574 billion set in 2022.

Moving on to Kenya, Tanui stated that the partnership with Semiconductor Technologies Limited positions the country to build a thriving semiconductor industry, hence stimulating the expansion of our electronics sector and opening doors to other high-tech businesses.

He went on to say: “Countries like Vietnam, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Malaysia have made significant advancements in this field, transforming the semiconductor industry into a cornerstone of their economies.

“Kenya is ready to follow in their footsteps and capitalise on this opportunity to foster sustainable, high-value economic growth.”