Mombasa Deputy Governor Dr William Kingi has called on Mombasa traders to take advantage of the growing aviation industry in the region to invest more.
Kingi who was speaking when he officially welcomed a new local airline, Silverstone Air Service to Mombasa airspace, Kingi said Coast region has numerous business opportunities that residents should take on.
"We greatly welcome Silverstone Air Service as they launch the first direct flight from Mombasa to Kisumu. The direct link between Mombasa and Kisumu opens new possibilities for business and tourism. With Kisumu’s strategic position on the Lake Victoria shores and on the fringes of the Great Lakes Region, a direct link to Mombasa is a big boon for both cities," Dr Kingi said on Saturday.
He said with Kisumu being a major hub in the West Kenya region, the new aviation link will also expand the range of opportunities into the larger Western Kenya region by introducing safe, reliable transport to and from Mombasa.
Kingi said fast-paced changes in the structure of the economy of Mombasa driven by devolution and new economic opportunities such as oil and mining, will change the way people interact and do business.
"With air transport becoming cheaper and more accessible, the demands of business can be met easily. We believe that with this reliable transport, we shall also harness cooperation between the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani and the Lake Region Economic Bloc for the mutual development of our people," he added.
"The potential for local tourism is also enhanced by the new link as our tourism industry can snap up the opportunity brought on by the new link to market Mombasa in Nyanza and Western Region. We remain committed to improving the business climate in Mombasa to enable new opportunities as this, to thrive to their full potential."