Japan to offer technology support to Kenya

President Uhuru Kenyatta (right) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Statehouse, Nairobi for a joint press conference on August 26, 2016. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • He exuded confidence that the TICAD conference will strengthen the ties between Japan and Africa.
  • President Kenyatta welcomed the Japanese PM to State House, with an elaborate state reception rounded off by a 19-gun salute.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said his country is focusing on sharing high-quality technology and skills with African countries to help boost agricultural productivity.

Mr Abe said by so doing, Kenya can improve the efficiency of human resources in industrialisation and development.

During a press briefing when he visited President Uhuru Kenyatta at Statehouse in Nairobi on Friday, Mr Abe said he was accompanied by 76 representatives from Japanese firms who are keen on sharing experiences and expertise at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) forum.

“The key to economic development is industrialisation and Africa is facing several challenges in the industry sector. We hope that sharing experiences will help in solving some of these problems,” Mr Abe said.

He exuded confidence that the TICAD conference, being held in Nairobi and for the first time in Africa, will strengthen the ties between Japan and Africa.

President Kenyatta said Kenya is glad to host the TICAD conference, saying that the convergence was a key forum for engagement between Africa and Japan.

“The conference will focus on three key areas; exchanging views on industrialisation, building resilience in health systems and building inclusion and stability for prosperity for all,” he said.

Earlier, President Kenyatta welcomed Mr Abe to State House with an elaborate state reception rounded off by a 19-gun salute.

Mr Abe, who will officially open TICAD V1 with President Kenyatta, began his visit to Kenya by laying a wreath at the mausoleum of the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and thereafter proceeded to State House.

He then inspected a guard of honour mounted by a detachment of the Kenya Air Force at State House.