The 3rd Japan-Kenya Business Dialogue
2022/7/22
On 22 July 2022, the 3rd Japan-Kenya Business Dialogue was held chaired by Amb. Kirimi P. Kaberia, the Principal Secretary of State Department for Industrialization, and Mr. Kitagawa Yasuhisa, Chargé d'affaires a.i. of Japan attended as the Japanese Delegation Head.
The establishment of the Dialogue was agreed on between H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister H.E. Shinzo Abe during TICAD7 held in Yokohama, Japan in August 2019.
The special focused topic of this Dialogue was the Dongo Kundu SEZ in Mombasa, where the Japanese Government has been supporting its development. Both sides discussed specific progress and challenges about the Dongo Kundu SEZ.
The Dialogue was attended by the Embassy, the Japanese Business Association in Kenya, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from Japanese side, while the Kenyan side included the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development, the Kenya Investment Authority, the Special Economic Zones Authority and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM).
In his remarks, Mr. Kitagawa expressed his appreciation to the Kenyan side for their contributions. He also said, “I hope that we will be able to confirm our common goal in order to create another attractive and efficient SEZ. If there is anything the Japanese Government can do to assist, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time”. In his closing remarks, he also mentioned the following assurance; “Japan is always in the ‘passenger seat’ and can support Kenyan side to drive and maintain the car. On the other hand, the Kenyan side is always in the ‘driver's seat’ and is the only one who can operate the steering wheel and adjust the accelerator. We look forward to more initiatives from the Kenyan side and to continue constructive exchange of views on SEZs.”
Amb. Kaberia expressed his expectation that more Japanese companies would invest in Dongo Kundu SEZ by putting importance on the issue of “Green Technology”.
In her remarks the Acting MD of KenInvest Ms. Olivia Rachier said that Kenya is among top reformists in the continent and top ten in the world and assured that KenInvest will continue giving world class facilitation to Japanese and other investors in the Country.
The establishment of the Dialogue was agreed on between H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister H.E. Shinzo Abe during TICAD7 held in Yokohama, Japan in August 2019.
The special focused topic of this Dialogue was the Dongo Kundu SEZ in Mombasa, where the Japanese Government has been supporting its development. Both sides discussed specific progress and challenges about the Dongo Kundu SEZ.
The Dialogue was attended by the Embassy, the Japanese Business Association in Kenya, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from Japanese side, while the Kenyan side included the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development, the Kenya Investment Authority, the Special Economic Zones Authority and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM).
In his remarks, Mr. Kitagawa expressed his appreciation to the Kenyan side for their contributions. He also said, “I hope that we will be able to confirm our common goal in order to create another attractive and efficient SEZ. If there is anything the Japanese Government can do to assist, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time”. In his closing remarks, he also mentioned the following assurance; “Japan is always in the ‘passenger seat’ and can support Kenyan side to drive and maintain the car. On the other hand, the Kenyan side is always in the ‘driver's seat’ and is the only one who can operate the steering wheel and adjust the accelerator. We look forward to more initiatives from the Kenyan side and to continue constructive exchange of views on SEZs.”
Amb. Kaberia expressed his expectation that more Japanese companies would invest in Dongo Kundu SEZ by putting importance on the issue of “Green Technology”.
In her remarks the Acting MD of KenInvest Ms. Olivia Rachier said that Kenya is among top reformists in the continent and top ten in the world and assured that KenInvest will continue giving world class facilitation to Japanese and other investors in the Country.