President Uhuru Kenyatta has said Kenya has one of the best business environment for any entrepreneur willing to invest.
He said for the last three years, the government has undertaken legal and political reforms which are aimed at making the country one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world.
“Before I leave office, I want to make Kenya one of the top fifty attractive investment destinations in the world,” said the President.
He said the media freedom, judiciary independence and many other reforms being undertaken in the country are aimed at creating a stable society which would enable any investor have a desire to set shop in the country.
President Kenyatta was speaking Tuesday afternoon when he held discussions with board members of U.S. Chamber of Commerce U.S.-Africa Business Centre (USAfBC) who paid him a courtesy call at State House, Nairobi.
When asked about the challenges facing Kenya because of the European Union trade agreement with the East African Member states, President Kenyatta pointed out that the challenges facing the Economic Partnership Agreement are temporary.
“The reality on the ground is different, we have a tripartite agreement between EAC, COMESA and SADC which I think needs to be fast-tracked because what matters to our people is business,” said the President.
President Kenyatta pointed out that Kenya has no favourites in doing business but is willing to engage all willing partners to accelerate economic development.
He singled out the partnership between the government and some private companies including major US firms in providing efficient medical services through the Managed Equipment Services (MES), pointing out that there many more opportunities for investors willing to engage the government in providing social services.
“The issue here is how we can collaborate with the private sector to provide basic services,” said the President.
He noted that there so many areas of investment in the Infrastructure, Information, Communication and Technology, Health, Education and Agriculture.
He urged the USAfBC members to seek to partner with the Kenyan private sector who would help them penetrate the local and regional markets.
Through the Co-chair of the USAfBC board Jay Ireland, the businessmen said they are willing to engage the Kenyan private sector and the government to understand more on the available opportunities so as to woe more of its members to invest in the country.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce U.S. Africa Business Centre is holding its first ever board meeting in Africa here in Nairobi.
The U.S. chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses in the United States. The chamber also works closely with 117 American Chambers of Commerce abroad.
Also present were the Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff Joseph Kinyua, CEO of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the Chairman of the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) Linus Gitahi.
By PSCU.