19 Nov 2014 - 20 Nov 2014
Kenya will host an international conference on investment and trade in Nairobi, on 19th and 20th November, 2014 with the aim of encouraging more local, regional and international investors to take up investment opportunities in the country, and promoting the country’s export products.
The conference, dubbed the Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO) and whose theme is “Invest in Kenya, the hub of East and Central Africa”, will be a 2 day event held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
The conference, organized by the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism through the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest) and the Export Promotion Council (EPU) and in partnership with the Kenyan National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) is expected to bring together over 1,000 local, regional and international business leaders and investors.
Announcing the details of the conference during a press conference held today, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Mrs. Phyllis Kandie, said the conference will be a platform to showcase Kenya’s Investment opportunities and bring international, regional and national investors together with the country’s leaders in one platform to discuss and exchange ideas that will lead to increased private investments in the country. Besides showcasing the country’s investment opportunities and export products, the conference will also provide a forum for reflection and dialogue on the progress the country has made in improving ease of doing business, and the remaining challenges requiring attention.
She further added that the conference will provide an opportunity to show the progress the country has made in entrenching itself as the preferred investment destination in East and Central Africa, and the region’s economic leader in finance, logistics and ICT.
“Foreign direct investment grew by almost 100% in 2013 to reach USD 514 Million. We would like to triple this amount in the next 3 years. The vibrancy of our market and the active investment by local investors, as individuals or in groups, especially in the real estate has taken an upturn and increased investment in the country” said Mrs. Phyllis Kandie, CS for the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism.
“Kenya’s economy, in addition to being dominant in COMESA, is recognizes as the financial, logistics and ICT hub in Africa. To maintain this position and encourage more investors to come to Kenya, there is need to showcase investment opportunities as well as provide information to investors on the new and existing sectors of the economy, “said Anne Kirima – Muchoki, Chairperson, Kenya Investment Authority, during the launch event.
Echoing her sentiments, the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chairman, Kiprono Kittony, said that the conference will be pivotal in the country’s endeavors to extend investment opportunities in the region and continent.
The 2-day conference, which also targets to bring together all the 47 county government, private sector and project promoters to exhibit their various investment opportunities and projects to investor, and export products to potential buyers, comes at a time when the country is positioning itself to secure crucial partnerships with investors as it endeavors to achieve the Vision 2030 benchmarks.
His Excellence the President of the Republic of Kenya, and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta will officially open the conference.
Registration for delegates wishing to participate in the conference is ongoing at the conference website while preparations are in earnest to ensure that the event is successful.
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