Kenya’s Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has urged private investors to channel their investments to infrastructural projects in Kenya.
Speaking in Nairobi while hosting 17 Dutch companies in Kenya for a week-long trade mission, Murkomen said Kenya is open to business to all well-positioned companies.
He explained that the government of Kenya opened doors for partnerships with private investors on its major infrastructural projects.
“The government of Kenya is targeting to advance the transportation of fresh produce, which calls for expanding rail, road, and port infrastructure. In Kenya, we leverage on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). We understand our financial situation as a country and the financial situation globally,” Murkomen said.
“That is why we advertised for private investment in Mombasa Port. The private sector will run the special economic zone in Lamu. We are ready to have a financial model to allow investors to come in for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension to Malaba,” the cabinet secretary added.
The Kenyan government assured the Dutch companies of its commitment to providing a favourable environment to investors.
“Our country has a skilled population open to new ideas. The Kenyan government continues implementing projects to improve connectivity and reduce city congestion. I dream that before the next election in 2027, we will have shown the world the benefits of working with the private sector and make this country the most attractive destination for investors,” Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen stated.
The 17 Dutch companies visiting Kenya are in port development, Dredging, transport and logistics, water engineering, maritime and blue economy, warehousing, and distribution sectors. The mission’s goal is to create partnerships for improved sustainable solutions on infrastructure and digitization of trade.
“Kenya already serves as the gateway to East Africa. It is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa and the largest economy in East Africa. We want to collaborate with Kenya to strengthen trade in sea freight. This is in line with Kenya’s government focus on improving transport infrastructure and logistics,” Maarten Brouwer, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Kenya, Somalia, and Seychelles, stated.
The Dutch mission, which is scheduled to visit the Port of Mombasa, aims to explore partnerships in Kenya’s trade and investment, port development, transport, logistics, and supply sectors.
“The focus is more on trade and investment because Kenya is ready for it, and the Netherlands is ready. I find Kenyan products in the Netherlands. Kenyan team coffee is found in Dutch supermarkets. Kenyan exports to the Netherlands have doubled to nearly KES 40 billion during the last six months of 2023. Flowers are a key export from Kenya to the Netherlands,” Ambassador Maarten Brouwer indicated.
Ambassador Maarten Brouwer: “We want to collaborate with Kenya to strengthen trade in sea freight.”
Photos: Edwin Mwai (Original)
André van Ommeren, the Managing Director- International Development at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) said Dutch investment in Kenya will create employment opportunities for the Kenyan people.
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