Kenyatta wants Kenya-China partnership to boost economy

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping shake hands during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. Kenyatta has urged Kenyan and Chinese businesspeople to adopt strategies that will boost the economy and grow jobs in the two countries.

Beijing. President Kenyatta has urged Kenyan and Chinese businesspeople to adopt strategies that will boost the economy and grow jobs in the two countries.

The President said as Kenya and China move towards strengthened bilateral ties, business should exploit the benefits on the basis of respect and reciprocity. This would bridge the balance of trade presently tilted in favour of China.

“This is the win-win dynamic that underpins our countries’ bilateral relations. It is the only way by which mutual interests are secured and prosperity guaranteed,” President Kenyatta told an investment forum of Chinese and Kenyan businessmen in the Beijing on the third day of his State visit to the world’s second largest economy.

More than 80 Kenyan and 50 Chinese companies were represented at the forum to showcase areas of investment in Kenya.

Several Governors, including Evans Kidero of Nairobi and Kenneth Lusaka (Bungoma) made presentations on investment opportunities in their counties.

President Kenyatta used his speech to underline the Jubilee Government’s “East” policy, saying Kenya was keen to do business within the context of the Indian Ocean RIM.

This means improving trade and business links with oil-rich Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, drawing from the fertiliser industries in Belarus to improve agri-business and tapping into manufacturing prowess of South Korea to grow Kenya’s jobs and raise prosperity.

President Kenyatta detailed how Chinese businesses would tap into investment opportunities in the East African community, leveraging on the bargaining muscle of the BRICS community of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

“We are in a space in the history of our world where we offer opportunities for win-win interactions and accelerated development of our country,” he said.

“My visit to China was about deepening bilateral relations and building robust business ties.”