#JackMaInKenya: 5 Takeaways from Jack Ma’s Keynote at Kempinski Nairobi
Once in a while you’ll see us with cameras in the streets, probably at the bar with friends or the beach in shorts but earlier today we had a little different setup.

Kenya Private Sector Alliance at Kempinski Nairobi with Jack Ma, UNCTAD Secretary General, Mukhisa Kituyi, a delegation from China, top government leaders and the cream of the who’s who in Kenya’s corporate world.
This high level meeting offered us a great opportunity to interact, network and share ideas with the counterparts from China and introduce Kenya to the Chinese Investors. It was a truly inspirational two hour session after learning from Asia’s richest man and how he built Alibaba and most importantly his plans for business in Africa.
Here’s what our co-founder, Muthuri Kinyamu managed to note down during the session. We never stop learning and showing up so here are the takeaways
- Infrastructure and Internet
Jack Ma narrated his story when he started Alibaba in his apartment 18 China. There was no internet in China back then yet he was building a e-commerce company. He shared a story of how he met Steve Jobs six months before he launched the iPhone — before smartphones to narrate how things change so fast while explaining why the lack of infrastracture propelled the adoption of e-commerce and its success in China. The internet has just surpassed 20 years and moving on it’s not the internet companies that will win but the companies that will be all about the application of internet technology.
“I see the belief and passion in Africa. It’s now time for netpreneurs to apply technology that was developed 20 years ago” Jack Ma
“Real entrepreneurs never wait for infrastructure, we build infrastructure.
“In the US, eCommerce is a dessert but in China it is the main course” Jack Ma
2. Think globally. Win locally.
There’s no more of “Made in China” or “Made in America” it’s now “Made on the Internet”. You can design in one corner of the world, manufacture in the other, assemble and ship your product globally thanks to the internet.
“The thing we should never lose is hope and fighting for the future. If Jack Ma can be successful, 80% of the people in the world can be successful”
“The most difficult thing in the world is to try convince successful people because they live in the yesterday” Jack Ma
3. It’s all about the people. Young people!
What we need is not infrastracture but the people. Jack Ma talked about supporting young people and nurturing their ideas. On that same point Jack Ma said it is not the role of government to innovate but provide an enabling environment for ideas and small businesses to thrive. In Africa, we are blessed with many challenges — these problems are big opportunities and with Kenya’s fast internet speeds young people can truly create magic on the internet. Every entrepreneur will be online — let’s usher in a new wave of Africa’s netpreneurs who’ll use the internet better to do good and do great business. We see unlimited opportunities for brands in the tourism and hospitality industry to leverage on social media to engage customers and reach new consumers in different markets globally.
Collaboration
Unlike Western Companies that set up everything from the ground up in new regions and markets, Alibaba’s playbook in Africa is more collaborative. Jack Ma hinted at plans to work with local partners and support entrepreneurs in the continent to ship globally.
“Pay special attention to companies with employees aged below 30 years, companies with below 30 employees and pay special attention to women because those are the people who never stop trying new things.” Jack Ma
4. Tourism: Tapping into the Chinese Source Market
Did you know that in 2016 over 130 million Chinese nationals travelled out of the country? That’s like an entire nation on the move and we’d love to get a share of that pie to show them our beautiful country that is Kenya.
We are happy to announce that Jack Ma will be in Maasai Mara this weekend to catch nature’s greatest show on earth — The Great Migration and has committed to become our ambassador to bring more visitors and investors from China to Magical Kenya to boost trade, investment and tourism.

Last year, Kenya Tourism Board Team TwendeMara to promote The Great Migration in Mara and we teamed up with Angama Mara and Spirit of Masai Mara as our hosts to catch the action. Have you been to Maasai Mara?
Talk to us for customized packages to suit your style and schedule. The show is still on and you absolutely don’t want to miss it or blink!
We deeply appreciate the people and thank our partners who continue to open the doors and send the elevator back down to support Turnup.Travel.
About Turnup.Travel
Turnup.Travel organises bespoke trips, we craft destination marketing campaigns and promote unique properties. To work with us, write to trips@turnup.travel.
