Norwegian Ambassador to Kenya and Somalia Siv Cathrine Moe has visited the iconic BBS Mall in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area, in a tour that underscored the growing international recognition of the commercial complex as a key driver of regional trade and investment.
The ambassador was accompanied by Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan during the official visit to the expansive facility, which has increasingly emerged as one of East and Central Africa’s most influential commercial centres.
The delegation was received by BBS Mall Chairman and Founder Moalim Wali, who guided the visitors through the multi-billion-shilling development that has transformed Eastleigh into a modern business and logistics hub attracting traders, investors, and consumers from across the region.
Widely regarded as the largest shopping mall in East and Central Africa, BBS Mall hosts a broad mix of wholesale and retail outlets, hospitality facilities, banking services, office spaces, logistics operations, and international brands serving businesses from Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and beyond.
Business leaders say the mall has played a central role in strengthening Nairobi’s standing as a regional trade gateway while generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs for youth, transport operators, traders, suppliers, and service providers.
In a statement issued after the visit, BBS Mall management said the facility was honored to host the Norwegian delegation for engagements focused on economic growth, investment opportunities, partnerships, and community development.
During the tour, Ambassador Moe praised the mall’s contribution to entrepreneurship, urban transformation, and local economic empowerment.
“I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your commitment to social responsibility. Many of the world’s major businesses now have outlets here, and services that people once had to travel far to access are now available locally,” the ambassador said.
“You are a visionary entrepreneur with exceptional ambition, having established the largest mall in East and Central Africa right here,” she added.
The ambassador also commended the rapid commercial growth witnessed in Eastleigh over recent years, describing the area as a reflection of resilience, innovation, and strong entrepreneurial spirit.
For decades, Eastleigh has served as a critical commercial gateway connecting Nairobi to markets across the Horn of Africa and the wider East African region. The emergence of BBS Mall has further accelerated the area’s transformation into a strategic centre for cross-border commerce, logistics, and wholesale trade.
The facility has become particularly important for importers, exporters, wholesalers, and small-scale traders operating within regional supply chains linking Kenya to neighbouring countries.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan noted that Eastleigh’s continued expansion demonstrates the growing importance of private sector investment in urban economic transformation.
He said developments such as BBS Mall have helped modernize business operations in the area while strengthening Nairobi’s competitiveness as a commercial capital within the region.
Following the tour, Ambassador Moe was presented with traditional Somali cultural attire in a symbolic gesture celebrating cultural exchange and longstanding ties between communities operating within Eastleigh’s vibrant business ecosystem.
The visit adds to a growing list of high-profile leaders and dignitaries who have toured the mall in recent years. Among them are President William Ruto, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and the late opposition leader Raila Odinga.
