STORY: China's Jiangxi holds trade, investment promotion forum in Kenya
DATELINE: Oct. 10, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:54
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the forum
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ABUBAKAR HASSAN ABUBAKAR, Principal Secretary of Kenya's State Department for Investment Promotion
3. various of the forum
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ERIC RUTTO, President of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
5. various of the forum

STORYLINE:

A forum was held in Nairobi on Monday to promote investment and trade cooperation between Kenya and east China's Jiangxi Province.

The China Jiangxi International Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum was held under the theme of "Promoting friendly cooperation and promoting common prosperity."

Convened by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), the one-day forum discussed collaboration in key sectors like manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare, tourism, mining and information and communications technology.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ABUBAKAR HASSAN ABUBAKAR, Principal Secretary of Kenya's State Department for Investment Promotion
"Now we want China to become the largest investor in Kenya by broadening and deepening our investment initiative, expanding our shared economic prosperity and strengthening our economic diplomacy. And Kenyan message to the Chinese investors is simple. It is: Kenya is open for business, Kenya is ready for business, Kenya is safe for business, and we mean business."
   
During the forum, memoranda of understanding were signed between the KNCCI and China Council for Promotion of International Trade Jiangxi Provincial Committee.

Eric Rutto, KNCCI president, said that a growing number of Chinese firms were exploring trade and investment opportunities in Kenya, lured by a stable macroeconomic environment and friendly regulations.

He disclosed that approximately 80 companies from Jiangxi had pitched tents in Kenya and were keen to venture into infrastructure development, technology and manufacturing sectors.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ERIC RUTTO, President of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
"We have also agreed to organize a trade mission from Kenya to Jiangxi Province, so that our businesses can be able to visit our counterparts in China. We can be able to exchange information, and we can be able to get clients and distributors of Kenyan products, especially agri-products that we know currently. In addition to that, we want to go into industrialization and mineralization in Kenya."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)