Friday, January 22, 2016

Homabay targets investors in tourism, agro-processing

PHOTO | FILE Homa Bay county Governor Cyprian Awiti. The Homa Bay County Assembly was turned into a battlefield on April 16, 2014 with members clashing over sitting arrangements for the Majority and Minority Leaders.
PHOTO | FILE Homa Bay county Governor Cyprian Awiti.   NATION MEDIA GROUP
By EDWIN OKOTH
More by this Author
Homabay County is targeting investments in agro-processing, tourism, real estate among others in its three day investment forum slated for February.
At a pre-investment conference held Thursday in Nairobi, the County Governor Cyprian Awiti said the investment platforms exist in 14 key areas including tourism, agro-processing, real estate and education.
The county got a major boost in transport after two aviation operators promised to begin flying the Nairobi-Homabay route.
Short Haul carrier Fly 540 and Spanish backed airline Baracuda Airways will make their inaugural flights in the County’s airstrip located in Kabunde.
Wilken Group an East African holding company with interests in aviation, energy and financial markets pledged to construct a 3 star hotel near the 1.3 kilometer runway airstrip.
Extend runway
Fly 540 Commercial Director Nixon Ooko asked the county government to consider improving road infrastructure as well as extend the airstrip runway from the current 1.5 kilometers to 2 kilometers.
“Now we are going to be able to fly the 37 seater aircraft from 28th but we need to have other roads motorable in all weather conditions as well as get a longer runway.  Why would we not have a jet land in Homabay?”  Mr Ooko paused.
“We have a population of 1.3 million people, Homabay is ready for investors and we have made all the necessary requirements to smoothen investments in the county. Land, infrastructure and any support will be availed as we seek these key partners in development,” Mr Awiti said.

No comments :

Post a Comment