Today in Beijing, I witnessed the signing of a partnership that opens a real door for young creators across Kenya and Africa to a market of over a billion people, anchored on the MoU between Kenya and China. WAPI Group and Volcano Engine, ByteDance's cloud and AI arm (the company behind TikTok), will Base the creator platform Tazama here in Kenya, giving our young people the AI tools, localisation support and payment systems to earn from their talent and reach China and other global markets from home. This is also a genuine cultural exchange. Just as our creators gain access to global platforms, African stories, music and content will reach audiences in China, a digital market of over a billion people where Volcano Engine already holds close to a 50 percent share. It is a powerful engine for digital tourism too, showcasing Kenya's landscapes, heritage and culture to the world and drawing visitors to experience them firsthand. Kenya sits at the gateway to a continental market of some 1.5 billion people, and the partnership will also support African language content, starting with Kiswahili, so our stories and voices travel the world without losing who we are. The future of work for our youth is digital, and the Ministry will keep providing the enabling environment, partnerships and skills pathways to make sure the opportunity reaches as many young people as possible. To every young creator watching: the door is open. Walk through it.

Today, I hosted the leadership of Wapi Pay, a Kenyan-founded fintech that has evolved from cross-border payments into a broader digital economy platform with a growing presence across Africa and Asia. Our discussions focused on practical opportunities that can deliver tangible benefits for Kenyans, including reducing the cost of cross-border and diaspora payments, opening Chinese markets to Kenyan exports, creatives and SMEs through trade and content partnerships, and expanding access to Artificial Intelligence and digital skills for our young people so that they become creators and builders of technology, not merely consumers. We also explored opportunities within the creator economy to showcase Kenya’s culture, tourism and talent to global audiences, as well as green mobility and digital infrastructure initiatives that can create jobs and spur innovation. As we embrace these opportunities, the Government remains committed to ensuring that innovation goes hand in hand with strong safeguards protecting children online, promoting responsible content, and ensuring compliance with Kenya’s laws and regulatory frameworks. Under the Digital Superhighway agenda, we will continue to position Kenya as the region’s hub for digital innovation and the digital economy, while fostering partnerships that deliver real value, jobs, skills and dignity for our people.