PARIS: President Uhuru Kenyatta held a meeting with a delegation of more than 50 business executives from France who are in Kenya in search of investment opportunities.
The representatives of the major French companies including Airbus Helicopters and Alcatel-Lucent, who were led by the Minister of State for Foreign Trade of France, Mr Matthias Fekl, met the President at State House, Nairobi on Wednesday.
The President at the same time witnessed the signing of agreements between Kenya and the Government of France on the financing of several development projects.
Uhuru said the visit by the French business executives symbolises the confidence France has in Kenya and its desire to develop that partnership to a deeper level.
He said Kenya encourages partnerships that are of mutual benefit to Kenyans and investors.
“We want to benefit from the taxes you pay, the employment that you will create and the capital you will inject in the economy,” said the President.
Uhuru said the Government’s role was to facilitate investors by creating conducive environments for them to do business.
He said the true partners of foreign investors are the Kenyan private sector. “Meet the Kenyan private sector before you go back because they are your true partners and our role as Government is to facilitate,” he said.
Uhuru said the private sector will play more crucial roles in the country’s future because the country’s leadership understands how effective it is in achieving desired goals.
We in Kenya know that our development goals will be achieved faster if we facilitate the private sector to be active partners,” he said.
The President said the Government was doing more to improve the business environment even after the Government was hailed internationally for its achievements in making Kenya a preferred investment destination.
