Event report
IMF's Regional Economic Outlook with I&M Bank Ltd
IMF’s April 2025 Economic Outlook highlighting global uncertainty, Kenya’s mounting economic pressures and strategic pathways for business resilience.
This morning, we had the pleasure of hosting an insightful Breakfast Meeting in partnership with I&M Bank Ltd, featuring Stephanie K., Senior Economist, who unpacked the IMF’s April 2025 Economic Outlook with clarity, urgency, and depth.
Stephanie painted a clear picture of the global and regional landscape: inflation is easing more slowly than expected, and financial conditions remain tight. According to the WTO, global merchandise trade growth is expected to deviate by 2.5%, driven by uncertainty, rising protectionism, and shifting geopolitical alliances — especially the ongoing US-China trade dynamics, which are reshaping supply chains and investment decisions across the globe.
Zooming into Kenya’s outlook, the country shows steady GDP momentum — but faces mounting debt pressures, heavy reliance on domestic borrowing, and increased vulnerability to external shocks. With fiscal space shrinking, the risks of underperformance and market volatility remain real.
So, how can businesses stay ahead? Stephanie shared five strategic pillars:
Manage risk proactively and hedge against volatility
Diversify funding sources, especially away from FX debt
Double down on operational efficiency
Expand supply chains and markets beyond traditional partners
Focus on core, high-need sectors aligned with national priorities
A huge thank you to Stephanie Kimani for the deep dive and practical guidance, and to all our members and partners who joined us bright and early. It’s clear that in times of uncertainty, information and strategy are our strongest currencies.
