Kenya’s journey to becoming a global industrial powerhouse is on course, President William Ruto has said.

He cited the current robust investor confidence, saying it is attracting substantial foreign and local investments and elevating the country’s industrial agenda.

“Our Special Economic Zone programme is coming of age, vindicating its driving vision of mobilising private investment as the primary driver of economic growth in our country,” he said.

The programme, he said, is aimed at increasing employment, growing exports, enhancing supply and boosting Kenya’s foreign exchange earnings.

President Ruto made the remarks during the official opening of Jumbo Africa Auto Auction Ltd at the Naivasha Special Economic Zone.

Afterwards, he broke ground for the construction of 1000 affordable housing units at the special economic zone.

The President said the Government had invested heavily in similar economic zones across the country. These are Dongo Kundu in Mombasa, Sagana (Kirinyaga), Thika, Egerton, Eldoret and Busia.

He said the Naivasha Special Economic Zone’s industrial park is a major boost in the country’s industrialisation. The President pointed out that the facility is the first Japanese car auction in Africa.

“Many doubted this industrial park will become a reality. Fortunately, we have kept our word,” the President said.

He announced that five more investors will soon set up base in Naivasha, among them n electric vehicle manufacturing company.

The Government has bought an extra 5,000 acres to make Naivasha a full-fledged industrial city.

The President noted that the Special Economic Zone will enable buyers purchase vehicles using the Kenya shilling rather than dollars.

“Competitive bidding will guarantee lower prices enhancing the savings buyers will accrue compared to traditional purchasing and car importation,” he added

He said the high demand for vehicles is expected to stimulate the vehicle spare parts industry and overall activities in the automotive sector.

This, he said, will lead to the expansion of the overall economy and the introduction and adoption of emerging technologies.

Governor Susan Kihika of Nakuru highlighted the zone’s potential to create more than 100,000 job opportunities therefore addressing unemployment and fostering manufacturing growth in the region.

She cited the lower electricity tariff KSh5 per kilowatt-hour and urged investors to capitalise on the opportunity.

Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Okaniwa Ken said the investments in the special economic zone had the full backing of the Japanese Government.

“Kenya is a gateway to African markets and other countries will be opened up,” he noted

Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara said the facility will open up the area’s economy by “putting Naivasha on the world map”.

Also present were Principal Secretaries Abubakar Hassan (Investment Promotion) and Alex Wachira (Energy), and MPs John Kiarie (Dagoretti) and Maina Karobia (EALA).

Jumbo Africa Auto Auction Ltd CEO Zahid Khan and chairman Chaudhry Rehman expressed their gratitude for the support the Kenya Government had offered them.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Counselor Dr. Ahmed Fahmy, said, “President El-Sisi and the Dutch Prime Minister discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation across various political and economic levels, to be consistent with the current momentum in Egyptian-European relations.”

The call also focused on the situation in Gaza, and Egypt’s efforts to restore regional stability by reaching a ceasefire in the region and providing access for humanitarian aid. President El-Sisi reiterated the crucial importance of ending the ongoing war, warning against any military operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah, which will have catastrophic consequences on the humanitarian situation in the sector and on regional peace and security. President El-Sisi underscored the vital need for the international community to assume its responsibilities to implement the relevant UN resolutions.

President El-Sisi and the Dutch Prime Minister agreed on the urgency of working towards reaching a ceasefire and ensuring the flow of adequate amounts of humanitarian aid to all areas of Gaza to protect it from the dire humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the sector. They also emphasized the need to move towards the implementation of the two-state solution to contribute to restoring regional stability and establishing security and peace in the region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

HE Chairman of Libya’s High Council of State Dr. Mohammed Moftah Takala met with HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Libya Khaled bin Mohammed Zabin Al Dosari.

During the meeting, they discussed the bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The State of Qatar.

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received a written message from HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt Sameh Shoukry, pertaining to bilateral relations and ways to support and enhance them.

HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi received the message during his meeting today with HE Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Qatar Amr El Sherbini. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The State of Qatar.