New Sh6.5b project to give Kenya more investors

Kenya stands to receive more investors in the next five years thanks to a Sh6.5 billion ($65million) five-year investment facilitation project. East Africa Trade and Investment Hub (EATIH), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAid), plans to facilitate regional firms to be able to unlock new investments.

The project, to be implemented between 2014 and 2019, is likely to unlock new investment to the tune of Sh9.8 billion ($100million) in targeted sectors in the East Africa Community and African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) eligible countries of Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles, and Ethiopia.

 EATIH Investment Director Kanini Mutooni said Kenya is one of Africa’s frontier economies and stands to benefit more out of investments to be facilitated under the programme from various regions around the world.

 Mutooni who spoke in Nairobi yesterday said Kenya has made great strides in confronting challenges hindering investment and thus will be able to receive huge Foreign Direct Investment and enhance its Domestic Direct Investments. KenInvest MD Moses Ikiara said in 2014, Kenya received international attention from various global rating agencies owing to increased reforms. —Nicholas Waitathu