SPEECH BY H.E.

UHURU KENYATTA, PRESIDENT OF THE

REPUBLIC OF KENYA, DURING THE KENYA-JAPAN
BUSINESS FORUM HELD IN TOKYO ON 16TH MARCH 2015.
Excellencies,
Distinguished leaders of Japans business community
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me start with a word of thanks for the warm hospitality which my
delegation and I have enjoyed since we arrived. I am especially pleased,
because this is my first visit to Japan. Suce it to say that I would be happy to
return.
Your welcome has certainly strengthened the already excellent relations
between Kenya and Japan. These ties are anchored in our common values, and
sustained by the goodwill and cooperation that has been the hallmark of the
partnership. We welcome this opportunity to renew our partnership with
Japans business community.
Ladies and Gentlemen
A principal aim of my journey here is this: to strengthen the already robust
economic and commercial relations between the people of Kenya and the
people of Japan. We appreciate that while our respective countries are already
trading in various goods and services, there is substantial room for expansion
of business and investment opportunities. That is why I am quite pleased not
only speak to the players in commerce and business, but also to listen to their
proposals and suggestions on how my government can better support them.
Ladies and Gentlemen
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Let me begin by saying a little more about our positioning. As the gateway to
East and Central Africa, Kenya occupies a special position in Japans
diplomatic relations with Africa. Japan has been quick to recognise that
importance: I am happy to note that today Nairobi hosts one of the largest
Japanese communities in Africa, and is the Regional Headquarters for all of
Japans major agencies (JICA, JETRO and JBIC) as well as its largest trading
houses.
The Japanese partnership with Africa, and with Kenya in particular, has been
strengthened by recent initiatives such as the TICAD process. TICAD has
been an engine of growth since it promotes trade and investment in the
priority areas of infrastructure and agriculture, and encourages the active
engagement of the private sector to stimulate the creation of regional value
chains, employment, and the exchange of technology and know-how, as well as
to strengthen sectors with strong potential, such as tourism, to support Africas
sustained economic growth.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Kenya-Japan Trade has grown steadily, from USD 557million in 2008 to USD 1.1
billion in 2013. The balance of trade weighs in Japans favour; Kenya is desirous
of greater equality.
Kenyas main exports to Japan include tea, coee, fruits, and nuts, fresh and
frozen fish, fresh cut flowers, raw tobacco, sisal and textile fibres, handicrafts,
semi-precious stones and soda ash, while imports from Japan include motor
vehicles, auto parts and engines, iron and steel products, machinery and rubber
tyres.
I am happy to note that Kenya flowers are gaining popularity in Japan, because
of the longer shelf life. I would urge Japan to consider increasing its imports of
Kenyan flowers by importing directly from Kenya as opposed to going through
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European auctions, which only add to the delay in getting the flowers to
market.
We acknowledge that communication between our two countries is a
challenge. There are no direct flights between Nairobi and Tokyo, which
hinders the growth of bilateral trade and tourism. Our two governments will
need to address the matter, if we are to enhance our business engagements.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Kenya is a strong investment destination which still receives a high share of
FDI in the region. This is because of the enabling infrastructure that the
Government has laid out and due also to our fortunate location.
Over the last few years, Kenya has also been implementing our national
development priorities through the Kenya Vision 2030 blue print. The Vision
aims at transforming Kenya into a newly industrialised middle income
economy providing a high quality of life to all its citizens in a clean and secure
environment. We can report substantial progress, and indeed very substantial
assistance from Japan, in meeting these targets.
Kenya is an economic hub for the region due to location and proximity. We
have accessible transport connectivity; diverse skills and expertise; and we are
at the centre of a wide and expansive market in East Africa over 130 million
people and in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA) region, which is home to more than 410 million people. These
regions, and Kenyas relationship to them, represent a huge and relatively
untapped market for goods and services of the quality that Japan produces.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Information Communication and Technology sector in Kenya has
registered tremendous growth in the last decade, contributing over 12 percent
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to the national economy in 2013 and improving millions of lives. Kenya is now
a proud African ICT hub and a pacesetter in innovative technology. Our
mobile money technology/service, M-PESA has been replicated in many
countries with great success. My government acknowledges that ICT will
increase the countrys productivity and raise the competitiveness of local
businesses in a knowledge-based economy. I therefore welcome Japanese
investors to explore mutually beneficial opportunities in the ICT sector such
as the Konza Project and Business Process outsourcing (BPOs) centres.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Other opportunities for investment in Kenya include manufacturing,
agriculture, financial services, transport, infrastructure, energy and the Lamu
Port Sudan South-Ethiopia Transport corridor Project ( LAPSSET).
This project comprises of modern port facilities and rail, road, pipelines and
fibre optic links to serve a hinterland comprising Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan
and Sudan.
In the recent past, Kenya has also discovered oil and gas deposits and given the
economic importance of the sector, we invite Japanese investors to invest in
Kenya by going into joint ventures with Kenyan companies or through Public
Private Partnership.
I want to assure you that Kenya is open and safe for business and investment.
It is an ideal investment destination given my governments business-friendly
reforms.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We welcome proposals on how we can improve the current level of support to
the private sector. We stand ready at all times to facilitate trade enquiries,
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product promotion fairs and investment forums. Members of my delegation

are ready to answer any questions or clarify any issues that you may have. In
addition my Ambassador will individually follow on all the proposals and
inquiries initiated at this forum and report back on progress.
Let me close by once again commending the government and people of Japan
for their commitment to Kenyas development and their friendship over long
years. I look forward to many more years of even closer partnership.
I thank you all

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