UBA Kenya Eyes Mining and Blue Economy Sectors

UBA Kenya has signaled a bold push into Kenya’s natural resource economy following a high-level strategic engagement with Ali Hassan Joho, Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, and Betsy Njagi, Principal Secretary for the Blue Economy.

The meeting brought together top leadership from both the public and private sectors to explore structured partnerships aimed at unlocking sustainable growth across Kenya’s mining, fisheries, and maritime industries, sectors widely viewed as the country’s next economic frontier.

The UBA delegation was led by Mary Mulili, Managing Director / CEO of UBA Kenya, accompanied by Joy Juma, Public Sector. Their discussions centered on financing and enabling the full mining value chain from extraction and processing to value addition and trade facilitation.

Stakeholders emphasized the need to position the mining sector as a key pillar of Kenya’s industrialization agenda, with the potential to significantly boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and stimulate downstream industries. By strengthening financial access and investment structures, UBA Kenya aims to support the transformation of raw mineral wealth into high-value exports.

The engagement also comes at a pivotal moment as Kenya advances its Blue Economy Investment agenda ahead of the upcoming global Ocean Conference. With growing focus on sustainable ocean resources, fisheries development, and maritime trade infrastructure, the Blue Economy has emerged as a critical lever for inclusive economic growth.

The Blue Economy presents a significant opportunity to strengthen value chains and enhance regional trade. Efficient financing and trade facilitation are critical to this ecosystem — enabling cold-chain development, storage, transport, and export readiness for seafood and related products. With structured financial solutions and cross-border banking capabilities, UBA is positioned to support businesses operating across the Blue Economy value chain, helping them access working capital, manage foreign exchange, and expand into regional and global markets under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

UBA Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside the government to structure innovative financial solutions that convert natural resource potential into broad-based economic prosperity, ensuring that growth in the mining and maritime sectors translates into tangible benefits for communities and the national economy.

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