Youth in the coastal region have been told to embrace emerging innovation and technologies to grow and build resilient businesses.

Speaking during the first day of the Pwani innovation week 2023, Swahili pot hub founder Mahmoud Noor said young people must stay innovative to create employment for themselves.

The innovation week which will run for the whole week will also involve workshops to train youth on intellectual property and innovation protection, how to break barriers in gender and equality innovation and how to master strategies for success in modern business strategies.

Noor said youth have embraced innovations ready to tap into the economic potential that comes along with it.

The innovation week that has attracted hundreds of innovations and exhibitors

“We will link them with financial institutions so that their innovations can get financial funding and ready markets, we will also let them learn from mentors who will guide them through,” said Noor.

This is the fourth time the event is being held in Mombasa where youth showcase their innovations for sustainable development.

Noor said some of the innovations are targeting information communication sectors, ICT sectors, security among others.

"When they are good innovators we recommend them to the government to earn a living, we ask the youth to be patient and hardworking so that they can earn a living,” emphasized Noor.

At least 70 exhibitors are taking part in the Pwani innovation week and Swahili pot hub boss says 1,300 people have registered to take part.

On her part Farhiya Jamal, one of the participants said the event is significant since it will create an entrepreneurship ecosystem and empower hundreds of youth.

“What we want to achieve from the Pwani innovation week is to have jobs created, youth being empowered, catalyzing job opportunities so that we can create young entrepreneurs,” she said.