Raimondo in Kenya Promoting Data Regime

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy Eliud Owalo "affirmed their shared priorities for strengthening the digital economy, promoting innovation, and increasing digital trade and investment between the United States and Kenya," according to a readout from the Commerce Department,

They discussed "the prospect of U.S. companies investing in Kenya as a digital hub, including the establishment of data centers, to support businesses and citizens in Kenya and throughout the region."

The principals "reaffirmed their intention to cooperate on establishing interoperable privacy regimes and facilitating trusted cross-border data flows."

Areas of intended cooperation  include:

1. Data Protection and Cross Border Data Transfers: Both entities underscore the importance of robust data protections to foster innovation and enable safe, cross-border data flows essential for emerging technologies like AI. They intend to work on harmonizing data governance, ensuring interoperability, and participating in international forums like the Global Cross Border Privacy Rules Forum to facilitate and develop international data transfer mechanisms.

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI): The focus is on leveraging data to fuel AI innovation, with an emphasis on safety, security, and trustworthiness. There is intent to align strategies on AI, engage in global AI standards development, and explore how AI can advance key sectors like agriculture and healthcare in Kenya.

3. Digital Upskilling: Addressing the challenges posed by labor-saving technologies, there is a mutual commitment to enhance digital skills and literacy, particularly among youth, women, and under-represented groups. This includes initiatives like training and mentorship programs provided by the U.S. through grants and partnerships aimed at developing tech leaders in Africa.

Later Secretary Raimondo hosted a roundtable discussion with several leading women technology leaders in Kenya to "discuss the Biden-Harris Administration’s Digital Transformation with Africa initiative,"  including a recent announcement from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to fund the African Women Digital Leaders Training Program, which will bring the next generation of women tech leaders in Africa to Washington, DC and Silicon Valley for training, networking, and mentorship with the U.S. tech sector.

A Thursday meeting with Kenyan President William Ruto discussed opportunities to "increase U.S.-Kenya collaboration to promote convergence in digital policy and greater alignment on their countries’ respective approaches to artificial intelligence."

According to a readout, "The Secretary and President identified important opportunities for collaboration in the green energy and clean technology sectors."