EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYAKENYA BUSINESS SEMINAR ORGANISED BY UNIDO-ITPO, TOKYO IN
COLLABORATION WITH KENYA EMBASSY ON 27TH JUNE 2016 IN OSAKAOPENING REMARKS BY MR. PAUL KALIIH, MINISTER COUNSELOR-KENYAEMBASSY.
Head, UNIDO-ITPO Tokyo
Chairman, Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OCCI), Osaka
JETRO Osaka, JICA Kansai, METI Kansai Bureau
Members of Kenyans in Japan Association (KIJA), Osaka
Ladies and Gentlemen
It gives me pleasure to be with you today. First, my sincere thanks goes to UNIDO-ITPO,Tokyo for inviting Kenya Investments Authority (KENINVEST), through Ms. Heather
Munyao, to participate in their delegate program that is dedicated to promotion of Japanese
investments and technology transfer to participating countries. I take note with appreciation
that, during her two weeks’ promotional activities in Japan, the officer was facilitated andheld several bilateral business meetings with various Japanese stakeholders interested ininvesting in Kenya, visited various companies and today she will be delivering a key note
speech on investment opportunities available in Kenya for Japanese entrepreneurs.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Allow me also to express my gratitude to UNIDO-ITPO, Tokyo for hosting today’s Seminarin collaboration with Kenya Embassy. Thanks also goes to all the other Seminar participants
and presenters. This seminar comes immediately after the Embassy together with ourJapanese collaborators hosted yet another very successful seminar for Japanese SMEs inNagoya on 17th May 2016 as Kenya prepares to host the first TICAD Summit on African soil
in Nairobi this August, 2016.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Japan over the years has demonstrated to be true friend of Kenya and indeed Africa at large.
To date Japan remains a key development partner to Africa with Kenya being the highest
recipient of Japanese ODA in Sub-Sahara Africa both through bilateral cooperationarrangements and the TICAD process. Kenya, as a gateway to Africa, is also a strategic
trading Partner for Japan in Africa.
Ladies and Gentlemen
For the last three years we have witnessed unpreceded new flows of Japanese companies
coming to invest in Kenya. 15 major Japanese Companies opened their African regional
offices in Nairobi. These include, Ajinomoto Corporation (food processing), LIXIL
Corporation (Construction), Zensho Group (Food proccessing), Mitsui and Co. Ltd (GeneralTrading), Panasonic Corporation (Electrics), Nissin Foods (Food processing -also
participating in the seminar), Trade car view (ICT, Auto-trading), Honda Motors (Motorcyclemanufacturing), H.I.S Corporation (Tourism) just but to mention a few. We have also
witnessed increased volume of our key exports to Japan i.e. Tea and Cut flowers and also
diversification of our other exports including Coffee, dried fruits, nuts, fresh and frozen fish,handcrafts and semi-precious stones.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Allow me to talk a little bit about forthcoming TICAD VI Summit to be held in Nairobi inAugust 2016. Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) wasinitiated by Japan in 1993 to provide a platform through which Japan would continue tointeract with Africa to address ‘Africa development challenges and opportunities i.e TRADE,INVESTMENTS AND ODA. This was immediately after the end of cold war, resulting toincreased Western donor countries’ fatigue and disinterest in investing in Africa .As
traditional key investors to Africa, their focus and attention shifted towards former EasternEurope.
Ladies and GentlemenAt this critical moment, Japanese TICAD initiative was a reflection of true friendship andforesight towards Africa. To date, since the first TICAD I Conference in 1993, a lot has beenachieved in Africa’s Development through partnership with Japan, in terms of poverty
alleviation, employment creation, wealth creation and rise of African middle class throughJapanese investments and technology transfer to Africa. TICAD meetings are led by Japan,and co-organized by the United Nations, United Nations, Development Programme(UNDP), the World Bank and the African Union Commission (AUC).
Ladies and GentlemenThis unique partnership between Africa and Japan is based on twin cardinal principles ofAfrican ownership and mutually beneficial partnership. Invitations are extended to all
African Head of states and governments, as well as international organizations, donor
countries, private companies and civil society organizations. Until TICADV, the summitlevel meetings were held every five years in Japan.

From 2016 onwards, the TICAD Summit meetings will be held every 3 years, hosted
alternately in Africa and Japan. In response to the request from Africa side during the last
TICAD V meeting held in Yokohama, Japan agreed to hold TICAD VI Summit for first timein Africa in Nairobi, Kenya on 27-28th August, 2016. It will be preceded by TICADVI EXPOand Business forum on 26th presided over by Japanese Premier, Shinzo Abe and hostPresident Uhuru Kenya.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
The expo will be showcasing various Japanese companies operating and interested ininvesting in Africa as well as successful business enterprises from Africa willing to partnerwith their Japanese counterparts in investing in Africa. Over 50 African Head of States andGovernments are also expected to grace the occasion. So far over 300 Japanese companies
and over 1,000 Japanese business executives have registered for their participation during
TICAD VI Conference.
I encourage Companies from Osaka especially the SMEs to consider participating in thisinternational event to witness and appreciate what Africa, particularly Kenya can offer interms of Trade and investments and to further cement your friendship with Africa. For those
who may consider to make a business trip to Kenya on their own Kenya Embassy will beavailable to provide you with the necessary information.
Ladies and Gentlemen
In conclusion, during TICAD VI, the Government of Republic of Kenya has organized a tour
package for our guests to various world famous tourists attractions in Kenya including the‘original savannah Safari’ to Masai Mara National Park, L. Nakuru, famous for the Pink
flamingoes& 500 birds species & the big 5 and Nairobi National Park located 15 Minutes fromcity centre. Please come and sample the beauty of Kenya and hospitality of its people that weare known for globally.
Asante Sana
Thank you very much
Arigato Gozai masu.

Paul Kaliih
Minister Counsellor