The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife continued to strengthen its ties on the international stage as Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano took center stage as the chief guest speaker during the hybrid US-Africa Business Connect Forum, hosted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, USA.
The forum brought together a diverse mix of policymakers, business executives, investors, and innovators from across the African continent and the United States.
The goal was to open up fresh avenues for shared prosperity through digital innovation, entrepreneurial collaboration, and heritage-centered economic models.
During her address, CS Miano shared how Kenya, through tourism, is blending cultural preservation with forward-thinking business ventures.
One example is the Roosevelt Heritage Trail, a regional concept rooted in the historic expedition of President Theodore Roosevelt across East Africa.
This trail has inspired new efforts to tell Africa’s story through travel — linking history, culture, and nature into a compelling offering for the global market.
The trail, which spans unique landscapes in Kenya and beyond, is being packaged with added value through products like the Roosevelt Safari Coffee brand, which connects visitors to the land through taste, storytelling, and community-based production.
Miano noted that when travel is approached with creativity and respect for local identity, it can support jobs, deepen global understanding, and provide new economic lifelines to rural communities.
She reaffirmed the Ministry’s support for platforms that spark fresh thinking around tourism, trade, and cultural relations.
US-Africa Business Connect continues to act as a bridge — bringing together people and ideas that are shaping the future of both continents.
From digital infrastructure to cross-border commerce, the event highlighted how collaboration can produce real-world results, with tourism emerging as one of the most dynamic sectors in this space.
