Parliament woos investors after attack

Johnson Sakaja, a member of the Parliament's Finance, Trade and Planning committee. Photo/FILE 

By EDWIN MUTAI

In Summary

• Finance, Trade and Planning committee said Parliament is in the process of reviewing all legislative framework governing trade and investment with a view to establishing a one-stop shop for investors

A parliamentary committee has asked foreign traders to invest in Kenya despite the recent terrorists attacks.

The Finance, Trade and Planning committee said Parliament is in the process of reviewing all legislative framework governing trade and investment with a view to establishing a one-stop shop for investors.

“Once the relevant laws are reviewed, investors seeking to set up businesses in the country will find it easy to start business,” Johnson Sakaja, a member of the committee told an international trade exhibition forum organised by Expogroup Africa on Friday.

The two-day trade fair, taking place at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), brought together about 150 foreign and local exhibitors from 32 countries.

Mr Sakaja, who represented the committee as the chief guest at the event urged foreign investors to take advantage of opportunities available in the country to establish enterprises.

“Despite the recent terror attack at the Westgate shopping mall, Kenya continues to be a leading destination for investment in the East African region,” he said.

While hailing international businessmen who came in to participate in the 17th Kenya International Trade Exhibition 2013 (KITE 2013), Mr Sakaja condemned planners and financiers of terrorism.

“Terrorism is an act of cowardice. I thank all foreign traders who have made it here because your presence is a clear testimony that terrorism must and should be wiped out,” he said.

“We know the loss and destruction that terrorism cost in terms of investment and that is why as a committee of Parliament, we will embark on strengthening our legal regimes to combat terror,” he said.

Mr Lawrence Kariuki one of the organisers of the events said the trade fair will serve as a platform to establish global networks and build new business relations.

“Over the past years, KITE has developed into the leading international industry event for converting specialists in the East Africa region. They value this specialised trade exhibition as the ideal platform to establish global networks and to build new business relations,” Neville Trindade, an exhibition manager at Expogroup Africa added.

The KITE 2013 has exhibitors in four categories of food, hotel and agricultural sectors, medical and pharmaceuticals, plastic, printing and packaging sector, the industrial and consumer sectors.