Visitors and exhibitors during China Trade Week expo in Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Kenya will in December host the inaugural Chinese Industrial
Fair in Africa where 50 top Chinese companies have confirmed attendance
with an eye on lucrative transport and infrastructure projects.
Kenya’s
Ambassador to China Michael Kinyanjui confirmed that executives running
56 mega-enterprises from 18 Chinese provinces will lead their
delegations who will display equipment at the four-day China-Africa
Industrial Capacity Cooperation Exhibition to be held at Nairobi’s KICC
grounds between December 13 and 16.
China Council for
the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) vice chairman Chen Zhou
said the exhibition presents Chinese enterprises with an avenue to
launch investments with an eye on regional markets.
“The
expo will provide a platform for the exchange and intensified
cooperation that will encourage Chinese enterprises to venture into
Africa thereby accelerating the African industrialisation agenda,” he
said.
The event builds on China’s increased interest in
Kenya where its various firms are actively engaged in implementation of
public and private contracts.
Notable among them is
the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project, which is in its second phase
covering 120 kilometres from Nairobi to Naivasha.
The
470 kilometre first phase between Nairobi and Mombasa, built at a cost
of Sh327 billion, is now in use for passenger services while freight
train services are to be inaugurated on December 1.
Chinese
contractors are also engaged in geothermal drilling activities, road
construction, youth training, dam construction and in real estate where
private entities have engaged contractors for construction of high-rise
buildings across Kenya.
Increased Kenyan business
delegations to China-based trade fairs have also informed the Nairobi
meeting expected to provide more local investors with an opportunity to
sample Chinese products, machinery and meet Chinese industrialists.
During
the expo, CCPIT will sign memorandum of understanding on cooperation
with trade and investment promotion institutions in Kenya, Mozambique
and Ethiopia with a view to boosting trade ties.
The
Nairobi event is expected to draw about 3,000 government officials and
enterprise representatives from several African countries.
No comments :
Post a Comment