US President Barack Obama will be attending the Global Entrepreneurship Summit happening in Kenya later this month.

The White House announced his attendance in a statement back in March, saying “President Obama will travel to Kenya in July, where he will hold bilateral meetings and participate in the GES”, and that it’s in line with the US’s policy to “continue our efforts to work with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, to accelerate economic growth, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve security.”

Sub-Saharan Africa has seen explosive economic growth, and entrepreneurs have been cashing in on the rise of the middle class, turning the region into a digital startup hub of sorts. Entrepreneurship, then, is key to ensuring further growth, which this summit aims to foster.

“It will be the sixth annual gathering of entrepreneurs at all stages of business development, business eaders, mentors, and high-level government officials” reads a statement on the official GES2015 website.

This trip will mark the first time Obama has visited Kenya in his presidential capacity.

The Global Entrepreneurship Summit takes place from the 25th to the 26th of July in Nairobi.

[Source – White House, GES Site, Image – GES]