Invest in Kenya, Uhuru tells Spaniards
Updated 21 hr(s) 42 min(s) ago
By John Oyuke
Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has asked Spanish entrepreneurs to increase investment in Kenya.
Uhuru said Kenya has put in place measures to improve the investment environment.
He cited Investment Promotion Act 2004, provision of duty waiver on capital goods and judicial and regulatory reforms among others.
Uhuru who is the Trade minister, spoke at the ongoing Expo Zaragoza in Spain to market the country as a destination for trade, investment and tourism.
He told Spanish investors that since the enactment of the Investment Act in 2004, investments procedures have been reduced to a five-step process enabling Kenya to be one of the most attractive countries to invest in the region.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Water Minister Charity Ngilu (right), Tourism Assistant Minister Cecily Mbarire (left) and other public and private sector officials during the Expo Zaragoza 2008, in Zaragoza, Spain, last week. |
“Licensing and regulatory reforms among other initiatives, are ongoing and these have so far created a positive investor perception,” Uhuru added.
Competitive
The Kenyan delegation comprised members drawn from both the private and public sectors.
The delegates represented horticulture, pyrethrum, coffee, tea, tourism, Information Communication and Technology, commercial crafts and the public sector.
“We demonstrated some aspects of our culture, and a sample of what Kenya can offer to the world, under the “Water for Sustainable Development” theme” Uhuru stated.
He said the vision was to make Kenya more competitive and prosperous globally, while ensuring a high quality of life for all people.
This, he added, is in Vision 2030 that aims at transforming the country into a newly industrialised, middle-income country.
Uhuru noted that opportunities for increased trade for Spain and Kenya exist in areas such as pyrethrum, coffee, fish, such as tuna where Kenya’s cost of supply is relatively lower than her competitors and also cut-flowers amongst others.
Uhuru said by participation in the Expo 2008 Zaragoza the country has gained enhanced bilateral relations and partnership with the Zaragoza Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Expo Zaragoza 2008 which opened on June 14 this year and is ending next month, has attracted over 20 African Countries.
Development
They include Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa among others..
The theme of the Expo is water and sustainable development from where several sub themes have been derived.
The forum will also be used as a platform for business communities from different nations to learn from each other and add value to their knowledge.
Source:
http://www.eastandard.net
Tags: expo kenya, expo zaragoza, Invest in Kenya, zaragoza2008