George Olaka

Biography

George Olaka is a senior finance and infrastructure executive with nearly 30 years of experience spanning commercial banking, development finance, and large-scale industrial platform development across Africa and global markets. He brings deep expertise in institution-building, capital structuring, governance, and multicountry execution for complex industrial and infrastructure investments.

As Country Head of ARISE IIP Kenya, George leads the development of integrated industrial ecosystems designed to advance Kenya’s industrialisation agenda while delivering sustainable, long-term returns to investors. His role sits at the intersection of public policy, global capital, and domestic value-chain development, translating national priorities into bankable industrial platforms.

Under his leadership, ARISE IIP Kenya is developing world-class industrial zones that go beyond traditional export processing. These platforms are structured to:

• Anchor manufacturing and services industries
• Support import substitution and export competitiveness
• Create skilled employment at scale
• Strengthen domestic supply chains
• Deliver inclusive and sustainable socio-economic impact

George’s approach to industrial development is grounded in the belief that industrialisation is long-term economic infrastructure — requiring credible institutions, disciplined governance, and trusted partnerships between governments, investors, and communities.