The China Trade Week coomenced today in Nairobi which will see a dedidicated Parrallel  Summit on Women in Technology under the theme: “Borderless Innovation: Pioneering Global Technology Solutions for Africa’s Challenges.

The chief guest representing the Cabinet Secretary for Trade,Industry and Investment Mr James Mureu who is the Chairman of Micro and Small Enterprise Authority reaffirmed the government of kenya supportfor the China Trade Week “Kenya is open for business and will endevour to collaborate with China Trade Week in advancing both countries trade.

His sentiments were echoed by Mr David Wang the Chairman of MIE which has in collaboration with Global Exhibition Incorporation led by Director Edwin Masabo.

“For over 2 decades more than 5000 traders,business leaders and innovators have participated in China Trade Week which has shown an upward growth trajectory ” Said Wang.

Giving her Keynote address Joyce Muthoni the Chief Executive Officer and CO-Founder Women in Technology and Innovation Africa WITIA  on behalf of the Parrallel Women in Technology Summit,Said ” This summit is more than an event. It is a declaration that African women are not only ready to solve complex problems, but are already doing so with brilliance, resilience, and innovation”

Joyce Muthoni Added that “Across Kenya and the continent, women are breaking barriers and building the future,with few notable examples such as  Dr. Gladys Chepkirui Ngetich, a Kenyan aerospace engineer, was named a Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 and is developing heat-resistant materials for jet engines at Oxford University, Esther KImani A computer scientist and engineer, she won the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation in 2024 for developing a solar-powered AI pest-and-disease detection device. The system identifies agricultural threats within 5 seconds, alerts farmers via SMS with intervention advice and can increase yields by 30–40% while reducing losses

WITIA CEO added that  Nelly Cheboi, the 2022 CNN Hero of the Year, left her software engineering job in the U.S. to build computer labs in rural Kenya through her nonprofit TechLit Africa, transforming digital literacy for thousands of students.

‘’ These are not outliers they are the evidence that when women are given opportunity and tools, they build solutions that scale and systems that serve. Yet, we must acknowledge  for every Nelly, Gladys, or Esther, there are countless young girls with equal potential who still lack access to quality STEM education, mentorship, and funding. That’s why this Summit and your presence here is so critical’’ Said Joyce Muthoni.