The Coast is intensifying efforts to position itself as a regional hub for innovation and investment, with organisers of this year's Pwani Innovation Week seeking to unlock employment opportunities for nearly two million young people while attracting investors to the region.
The seventh edition of the annual event is scheduled for October in Mombasa County.
Organisers said the event has evolved from a local technology gathering into a platform connecting innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers from across East and Southern Africa.
This year's programme is expected to attract participants from countries stretching from Somalia to Mozambique, underscoring the event's growing regional profile.
Speaking during the launch, Swahilipot Hub founder Mahmud Noor said the initiative was seeking closer collaboration with county governments to create more pathways to employment for young people.
He said the organisation had already helped connect more than 25,000 young people to employment opportunities and was now pursuing a significantly larger impact, with plans to reach nearly two million young people across the region.
According to Mahmud, attracting investors to the Coast remains a key priority, as increased investment would create more opportunities for young people to secure jobs and develop businesses.
"We are positioning this region to attract investors because when they come, it will be easier for our young people to access job opportunities," he said.
Mahmud added that Swahilipot Hub had expanded its programmes beyond Mombasa and Kilifi to include Kitui and Nairobi, enabling it to reach more young people through innovation and skills development initiatives.
Pwani Innovation Week Chairperson Dr Kevit Desai said this year's edition was expected to bring together innovators from several African countries, giving participants opportunities to showcase their ideas, build professional networks and benefit from mentorship programmes offered through the Swahilipot Hub Foundation.
He said the growing international participation reflected the event's increasing recognition as a platform for innovation and youth enterprise.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir reaffirmed the county government's commitment to working with Swahilipot, saying partnerships would be critical in creating more opportunities for young people.
He said the county planned to collaborate with the organisation through programmes such as Skills Mtaani to give young people practical opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills.
"We need to explore partnerships in many areas, including Kazi Mtaani, because these young people already have the knowledge and skills needed to make a difference," Abdulswamad said.
The governor said he had attended every edition of Pwani Innovation Week since taking office and noted that the initiative had continued to expand its reach and influence each year.
He said what began as a platform to support young innovators had evolved into one of the Coast's leading forums for technology, entrepreneurship and the creative economy.
As it marks its tenth anniversary, the organisation says it has expanded its programmes to nine counties, connected more than 50,000 young people, improved opportunities for over 30,000 participants and directly transformed the lives of more than 7,000 people through its various initiatives.
This year's event will be held under the theme, A Decade and Beyond: Youth, Innovation & Coastal Futures. Discussions are expected to focus on how innovation can drive economic growth, create sustainable employment and strengthen the region's competitiveness in the years ahead.
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