Kepsa to market regional investment opportunities in US-Africa leaders forum
Mr Vimal Shah, the Kepsa chairman, at a past press conference. FILE PHOTO| NATION
What you need to know:
Kepsa says summit provides unique opportunity for the private sector to develop new partnerships under Agoa for the development of value addition chains as well as the direct marketing of Kenyan products.
Kenya’s private sector intends to use the forthcoming US-Africa Leaders’ Summit as a marketing front to grow business prospects between America and the East African Community (EAC).
The summit, to be held in the United States next week, comes at a time when Kenya has been undergoing a wave of security woes, which has seen the western countries, including the US issue travel advisories.
The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) chairman Vimal Shah noted that the US is Kenya’s 4th largest trading partner, adding that the country has an open policy in working and engaging with all nations for the benefit of the private sector and the public.
“The Summit offers growth opportunities for both Kenya and the wider East African Community,” said Mr Shah.
Kepsa will lead business leaders from Kenya under the auspice of the East African Business Council during the forum to be held in Washington DC.
“The private sector delegation is going as one team in partnership with the government with a focus on attracting more investments and trade opportunities for Kenya,” said Mr Shah.
He said the summit provides a unique opportunity for the private sector to develop new partnerships under Agoa for the development of value addition chains as well as the direct marketing of Kenyan products.
Mr Shah noted that Kenya still has a favourable business operating environment for entrepreneurs even with recent security challenges.
“Insecurity is a big bump currently in the country, but the government is addressing the matter and we are certain that the issue will be tackled,” he said.
Digitisation
Kepsa lauded the government’s move to digitise the land records noting that it has ensured speedy verification of land titles making it easier for investors to identify and register land required for the development of both industry as well as the expansion of small-scale and medium-size enterprises.
Mr Shah pointed out that the reforms have in overall terms reduced the time taken to register a property from 73 to 12 days.
They also hailed digitisation of company records saying it has eased the business registration process in the country.
Kepsa said the move by the Registrar of Companies to consolidate the three procedures –paying stamp duty, stamping of memorandum of articles, and payment of registration fees, has reduced the number of days taken to register a company from seven to one.
