Counties

Meru woos Chinese investments with offer of free land

KIRAITU

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi has promised Chinese investors free land as he seeks to attract investment in agribusiness and the hospitality industry.

The county government also offered to help the foreign investors acquire national government licences to fast-track establishment of processing plants in the county.

Speaking when he met a delegation from China’s Anhui Province led by deputy governor Zhou Xi’an, Mr Murungi said his administration would support investors in macadamia processing, packaging and construction of hotels in Meru National Park.

Mr Xi’an, who has been leading investment delegations in South Africa before coming to Kenya, said his government was keen on partnering with Meru in manufacturing to create jobs and supply the Chinese market with high quality goods.

He said the Anhui province was taking advantage of the outcomes of the Kenya-China agreements over the China International Imports Exhibition.

The two countries recently signed a memorandum of understanding on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) giving Kenya's fresh produce access to the Chinese market.

“China has now opened its domestic market to foreign investment more than ever before. We can partner with Meru in providing high quality goods to the Chinese market. We are glad that Meru County is giving priority to local development as well as foreign investment,” Mr Xian said.

Mr Murungi said they were keen on attracting Chinese investors who would not only process agricultural produce but also have access to the China market.

“Our county will support the Chinese investors in acquiring licences which slow down foreign investment. We will also provide free land and an educated labour force to support the investments,” Mr Murungi said.

He noted that while Meru is a major producer of macadamia, China has a big market hence the partnership with Anhui province would see farmers reap more benefits.

“Meru National Park is a unique tourist attraction but we lack hotel space. We are looking for a Chinese investor to put up a hotel and attract Chinese tourists to Meru,” the Governor said.

In August, the Governor signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese municipality of Huangshan in Anhui to boost trade relations with the Asian country.