The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has successfully concluded an impactful business mission to East Africa, specifically targeting Kenya and Tanzania. The mission brought together a group of five innovative Malaysian technology companies from key industries such as animation, smart agriculture, education, cybersecurity, and fintech. This initiative further reinforces MDEC’s position as a global leader in driving digital transformation.
East Africa, with a population exceeding 120 million, is emerging as one of the most rapidly evolving digital markets in the world, driven by a vibrant and youthful, tech-savvy population. MDEC’s mission was strategically aligned with Kenya’s Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP) and Tanzania’s Digitalisation Agenda 2034—two forward-thinking initiatives designed to accelerate socio-economic growth through digital technologies.
The mission saw the achievement of several key milestones:
Partnerships Established: Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Malaysian tech firms and local entities in Kenya and Tanzania.
- AI Smartual Learning and Agile Business Solution Limited: A significant USD 15M deal to introduce AI-driven educational tools to 25,000 schools, reaching 69% of Kenya’s educational institutions, and transforming the access to quality education.
- Meraque Group and Webmaster Kenya Limited: A USD 1M agreement aimed at improving agricultural productivity in Kenya using advanced drone technology.
- Meraque Group and Digital Mobile Africa Limited: A partnership valued at USD 1.5M to revolutionize Tanzania’s agriculture sector through precision farming powered by drone technology.
Market Potential: The Malaysian tech delegation identified potential business opportunities worth MYR 160 million across Kenya and Tanzania, focusing on fast-growing sectors like education, agriculture, fintech, animation, and cybersecurity.
Cross-Border Synergy: The mission facilitated more than 160 strategic collaborations with local businesses, governmental agencies, and ecosystem players, laying a solid foundation for future cooperation and innovation between the two regions.
Building on this successful mission, MDEC plans to continue strengthening partnerships by facilitating reciprocal visits between Kenyan and Tanzanian leaders to Malaysia, where they can explore the nation’s cutting-edge digital solutions. Additionally, MDEC will participate in GITEX Morocco 2025, an influential platform to promote Malaysian tech innovations across Africa. Looking ahead, MDEC is preparing for another business mission to East Africa in the third quarter of 2025 to tap into untapped opportunities and deepen existing partnerships.
Wan Murdani Wan Mohamad, Head of Digital Industry Acceleration at MDEC, who led the mission, remarked, “This mission underscores the importance of international collaboration in building a resilient digital economy. Through the Malaysia Digital (MD) initiative, we are aligning Malaysia’s strengths in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and educational technology with East Africa’s aspirations, creating pathways for mutual growth and prosperity.”
As the leading agency in Malaysia’s digital economy, MDEC continues to empower Malaysian tech companies to expand their global footprint and contribute significantly to the digital transformation of emerging markets. Since its global outreach began in 2017, MDEC has facilitated over 1,200 business-matching opportunities, connected more than 350 partners worldwide, and generated USD 2.5 billion in digital export revenue.
