SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 www.mygov.go.ke NEWSFOCUS | 13 Farmers hold conference The partnership will further create a platform for Africa agro producers to export agricultural products to the large scales market large scales market. Speaking during the meet the farmers’ conference in Nairobi Friday, Trade Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo said that there was a huge potential for increasing Kenyans exports to UAE by increasing the export volumes of the current products and diversifying to new products. “The conference has created a platform for African agro producers to meet top buyers and investors from both countries to promote the industrialization of agricultural based business in intra and extra African trade,” Kiptoo added. The PS, in a speech read on BY VIONA JOY/WAMBUI MORAA, KNA K enya and Dubai United Arab Emirates (UAE) have partnered to create opportunities, exchange knowledge and innovation in the agricultural sector. The two countries have joined hands to venture into new markets and raise the level of trade through the exportation of Kenyan agricultural products. The partnership will further create a platform for Africa agro producers to export agricultural products to the his behalf by the Trade Secretary Peter Njoroge, explained that over years, trade relations between the two countries has grown tremendously. According to 2017 statistics, UAE is ranked third after China and India as an important source of Kenyans imports, while it is seventh in exports as important destination for domestic exports. Government invites tech companies to to strengthen export trade invest in the Big Four If found viable, the White Box would be commercialised and adopted by the government BY CHERUIYOT KORIR, KNA I Kiptoo encouraged UAE business persons to carry out trade visits and establish joint ventures with Kenya, adding that the government is committed to undertaking reforms leading to sound economic policies and stable political environment. He promised that Kenya would supply UAE with the bulk of its food requirements and they were hoping that partnerships created would lead to wider agricultural The conference has created a platform for African agro producers to meet buyers and investors from both countries - Dr. Chris Kiptoo supplies beyond the current narrow export base. The Kenya/Dubai commerce chamber person Michael Gathu said that they were strengthening relationship with UAE through business and key strategic missions in agriculture. “We export black tea, pyrethrum, horticulture, coffee and fresh fruits to UAE and we expect to increase our agricultural products through this partnership to improve our economy,” said Gathu. The theme of this year’s conference is centered on the future of agribusiness to collate all partakers in conjunction with five different cities including Accra, Kigali, Nairobi, Abuja and Dubai. nformation Cabinet Secretary Mr. Mucheru has disclosed the government’s plans to open a digital platform, White box, where citizens with innovative solutions will be depositing their innovative ideas. Muc h eru said Information Technology experts together with innovators would subject the white box idea to research to ascertain its viability. He noted that if found viable, the White Box would be commercialised and adopted by the government to facilitate delivery of services to the public. He was speaking at the Windsor Golf Country Club during a Huawei Redington Partnership Summit for ICT investors. Mucheru said the government was ready Joe to provide incentives to private investors to attract investments in micro and macro ICT enterprises. “Technology can be deployed to provide financial solutions, boost agri-business and big data necessary for technological transformations,” he said. In this regard, he invited technology companies in the country for a public private partnership in the implementation of the Big Four Agenda. The CS asked ICT companies to consider venturing into Public Private Partnerships in the government grand agenda to provide affordable housing, promotion of manufacturing, provision of accessible and affordable health care and food security. He added that the government had taken drastic measures to clean up the public sector through arrests and prosecution of corrupt officers in an effort to shore up public and investor confidence in government institutions. He added that the private sector was also required to understand and abide by the public procurement rules and regulations. Kenya set to improve product value Principal Secretary Industrialization, in the Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives, Ms Betty Maina said the programs and interventions will be undertaken in the textile, leather, agro-processing, and beef, dairy, coffee, tea and fish sectors Maina said the programs BY BINTI MWALIMU/ MOHAMED ALI T he State Department of Industrialization is putting in place transformative programs and interventions to optimize the potential of the value chain in the manufacturing sector. Principal Secretary Industrialization, in the Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives, Ms Betty and interventions will be undertaken in the textile, leather, agro-processing, and beef, dairy, coffee, tea and fish sectors. She said the interventions are aimed at creating an enabling environment for business growth, investment promotion, micro, small and medium enterprises development and development of special economic zones among others. The PS made the remarks yesterday in a speech read on her behalf by the Director of Industries Mr. Julius Kirima during the Third Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) festival held at the University of Nairobi. The two-day event has brought together entrepreneurs, policy makers, investors and industry leaders to network and share on growth opportunities. She said according to the 2016 Economic Survey, the Kenya Industrial Transformation Program identified SMEs as the fastest growing business segment and a key pillar to Kenya’s economy, contributing close to 25 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and over 50 percent employment opportunities, while the informal sector contributed over 80 percent of jobs. “We will focus on transforming Kenya into a primary industrial hub of Africa, delivering the country from the current situation of unemployment, poverty, low value exports, negative balance of trade and low economic development,” said Maina. The PS noted that Kenya was ranked the third most improved economy globally in The introduction of one-stop facility through Huduma Centre has further reduced the information gap and information asymmetry on business procedures and requirements hence boosting the country’s economy - Principal Secretary Industrialization Betty Maina the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Reports, as well as moved 56 places in the last three years from position 136 to 80. On ease of doing business, the PS announced that the country’s economy picked up through a collaborative approach within the government in the last three years making an unprecedented business reforms both at the National and County levels. “The introduction of onestop facility through Huduma Centre has further reduced the information gap and information asymmetry on business procedures and requirements hence boosting the country’s economy,” she added. She said the automation of most business regulations and services, introduction of electronic payment systems and consolidating of business costs have increased the ease and speed of doing business. The PS Maina also disclosed that the government through her ministry has also put in place many initiatives targeting the SME sector with a view of facilitating their conception, emergence, growth and graduation to medium and large enterprises. “I am confident that SMEs will be the key enablers of growth in the manufacturing sector in the Big Four Agenda because they form the bedrock for Industrial development and are the backbone of the economy,” added the PS. Dr. Muthoni Ngatia, the Chief Executive Officer of Open Business Africa said that the Vision 2030 pillar has set out strategies that will strengthen the SMEs sector to grow and innovate. The SMEs Fest 2018 Conference is set to inspire and challenge the entrepreneurs for the Big Four Agenda and to create an opportunity for manufacturing in the agribusiness and agro-industry sector.
14 Publizr Home