Kenya ministers pitch projects to investors in Addis

Transport Secretary James Macharia and Industrialisation Secretary Adan Mohammed participate in the three day 10th biennial US-Africa Business Summit which is underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. PHOTO | BRIAN NGUGI

What you need to know:

  • Mr Macharia called for Private Public Partnerships for development and maintenance of roads and bridges, airports expansion as well as the development of a Mass Transport Rapid systems for Nairobi.
  • His Industrialization counterpart Adan Mohammed reiterated that the government had significantly boosted the business environment in the country by continually reforming business laws and bringing down the cost of energy.

Kenya is pitching its ambitious infrastructure and industrialisation projects to foreign investors in Addis Ababa in the 3-day US Africa Business Summit.

Government officials Wednesday sought to improve Kenya's image as a place to do business telling foreign investors to put their money in Kenya, as part of a new strategy to increase foreign investment.

Transport Secretary James Macharia singled out the massive ongoing infrastructural projects including the Standard Gauge Railway and the Port of Lamu as some of the wide array of investment options for foreign investors.

“The Kenyan economy and the population of the region is growing rapidly and generating an expanding need for travel and transport. The Government is implementing solutions and this is where investors can partner with us,” said Mr Macharia.

Mr Macharia called for Private Public Partnerships for development and maintenance of roads and bridges, airports expansion as well as the development of a Mass Transport Rapid systems for Nairobi.

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

His Industrialization counterpart Adan Mohammed reiterated that the government had significantly boosted the business environment in the country by continually reforming business laws and bringing down the cost of energy.

Organised by the Corporate Council on Africa and held every two years, the US-Africa Business 2016 summit is being attended by around 1,200 participants including CEOs of major US and African companies, with the objective of boosting trade and investment between the region and the US.

Government representatives are drawn from the all parts of Africa, the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Regional government leaders taking part include Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce Michael Lally.