Swiss firm Mitrelli Group is exploring entry into the Kenyan market with the possibility of bringing major advances in key sectors of the economy, days after President William Ruto completed a global tour that opened doors to global firms eyeing Kenya.
The firm which is Headquartered in Switzerland but uses Israeli technology, celebrated its tenth anniversary on the African continent where it has successfully implemented major projects in education, infrastructure, energy, water, construction, health, food, agriculture and more.
“We are very much in the exploratory stages but are excited by the prospects. We have years of experience in Africa and Kenya is a wonderful country with unlimited opportunities. Kenya, after all, is known as Silicon Savannah for its tech and innovation potential – the space for synergies without innovation-driven impact is therefore vast,” the firm’s Ceo Yallon Tchwella told the Business Daily in an email.
The firm is looking for its next stop on the continent after its success in Angola, Ivory Coast and Senegal.
During the event, which took place at the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, Israel, Haim Taib, the group’s founder, emphasized the need to develop the relationship between Israel and Africa by focusing on cooperation, innovation and improving the economic potential of Africans.
“Investment in education and local talent is what will enable the next generation to grow the local economy, create new jobs, and establish the next technology companies in Africa,” said Taib
“In the next decade, we will provide vocational and technology training to one million people on the continent. Together, with the Israeli tech ecosystem, we can develop innovative solutions to address this.”
Working in collaboration with governmental and private entities, Mitrelli relies on Israeli technology, and funding capabilities from international financial institutions and partners with the public sector alongside local teams to create impact investments.
Mitrelli and its subsidiaries boast of capabilities to initiate, design, execute and operate complex international ventures, that match the needs of local populations and national priorities.
Mitrelli deploys an investment strategy that follows Kenya’s development plans like housing, food security, access to water, renewable energy and the creation of technology hubs to spur innovation.
The company’s interest in Kenya comes just days after President William Ruto made an official visit to Israel. The two countries agreed to bolster their trade and investment ties.
“We have eight MOUs that are being worked on in different sectors. I am very keen on matters to do with health. As you are aware Kenya has identified health as one of her priority areas,” said Ruto in Israel.
The President also said Kenya was working on including the private sector in the security space.
“We allow companies to do trade, do business, invest without unnecessary restrictions specifically on the subject of double taxation.”
Some of Mitrelli’s projects in Africa include the cultivation of over 450,000 acres of land which produce over 19,000 kilo tonnes of grain per year. The farms also produce over 100 million eggs while providing jobs to 1,400 workers.
Mitrelli has also constructed more than 40,000 housing projects on the continent including the $3.3 billion ‘Centralidade do Halaval community and housing project’, located in Angola that currently houses 20,000 people.
In health care, Mitrelli has constructed an equipped more than 340 clinics providing medical services to at least 200,000 patients per year. This is in addition to the 363,000 people connected to clean energy through Mitrelli’s electricity projects in Angola.
