President Uhuru Kenyatta held talks with top Canadian captains of industry who assured him of their continued appetite to invest in Kenya.
The over 25 business executives expressed their desire to partner with the Government in achieving President Kenyatta’s ‘Big 4’ pillars of development.
Among them was David Kay, whose Tenor Capital company has invested US$ 300 million in renewable energy.
Speaking on behalf of the Canadian investors, Fairfax Africa Holdings Corporation CEO Michael Wilkerson, said they have already updated themselves on the ‘Big 4’ agenda.
President Uhuru Kenyatta meets top business people from Canada https://t.co/vDlYn0imtv
— The Star, Kenya (@TheStarKenya) September 28, 2018
He revealed that it informed their desire to partner in realising the transformative vision.
Already 150 Canadian companies operate in Kenya and more have indicated that they want to take advantage of the potential offered under the Big 4 pillars.
“On the Canadian side we are very excited and as you know we are world leaders when it comes to renewable energy, engineering, technology, space industry, value addition to agricultural produce and the blue economy,” said Mr. Wilkerson.
President Uhuru Kenyatta responded saying the meeting offered an opportunity to deepen the solid partnership between the two countries which has been there since early sixties.
He reiterated his sentiments to existing partners to take advantage of emerging opportunities in Africa by investing in various sectors for the benefit of all.
The Head of State defended the new found relationship between Africa and China against accusations of exploitation by the West.
According to him, China is only taking advantage of existing opportunities, which the West had ignored.
He added that although the West has been Africa’s traditional partners, it has ignored valuable opportunities that China has foreseen.
President Kenyatta assured the Canadian investors of his Government’s transparency and openness in doing business, reiterating that he would not allow any public officer to cut self aggrandising deals with potential investors.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has held talks with Canadian businesspersons on the sidelines of the 73rd #UNGA conference in a bid to attract them to invest in the country especially in the four key sectors of his development agenda. #NTVToday @Gladys_Gachanja pic.twitter.com/hPTartzBwU
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) September 28, 2018