NAIROBI, June 4 (Xinhua) — Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday held meeting with former German President Horst Kohler who is leading a German delegation to explore business opportunities in Kenya and the East African region.
Kenya welcomes strategic partnerships that complement the country’s development agenda, Kenyatta said.
He assured German business community of conducive investment environment and called for fair trade partnerships between the two countries.
“We want to partner for appropriate solutions. Rest assured that government fully supports investments that not only yield returns but also benefit Kenyans,” he said in a statement issued after the meeting in Nairobi.
The delegation under the Federation of German Industries and Commerce will hold talks with the Kenyan business community and regional authorities at the East Africa German Business Summit (EAGBS).
There are already 100 German companies operating in Kenya, with Bosch and KHS having recently set up offices.
During the meeting, Kenyatta said technical and investment cooperation based on fair and win-win relationships would guarantee mutual benefit for the parties involved.
He assured government would continue to provide a conducive environment to both short and long term investors ready to conduct business in the country.
Kenyatta noted partnerships for businesses located in the country and the region would spur economic growth and open up opportunities for Kenyans who flee to foreign countries for greener pastures.
He stressed the need to delink political cycles from long term investments.
While the country has a five-year political cycle, Kenyatta said, government ensures stability for continuity of investments and other economic activities in the country.
According the president, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are working together to improve on infrastructure and reduce the cost of doing business. The three countries are also working together on the removal of barriers that deterred free movement of people and goods across the borders.
During the meeting, Kohler said German entrepreneurs are choosing Kenya as their investment destination in the East African region due to its strategic position as the region’s economic hub.
He said German would pay more attentions to business opportunities in Kenya and the region.
