Envoy: Japan seeking closer ties with Kenya

By Lillian Kiarie

The Government of Japan has renewed its commitment to work with Kenya in order to foster robust and sustainable development.

Japan will scale up its operations in the country by drafting stout policy frameworks and constructing developmental projects to accelerate growth in Kenya.

Japanese Ambassador Toshihisa Takata said that fresh investments in infrastructure, agri-business and other sectors were on-going to forge closer business ties within the two countries.

Takata was speaking when he paid a courtesy visit to the Standard Group where he was welcomed by the Standard Group’s CEO Sam Sholei.

Sholei lauded Japan’s commitment to Kenya’s development agenda particularly in reference to the Mombasa Port Area Road Development Project.

In addition, he stated that Japan’s involvement in Africa, exhibited by the upcoming 5th Tokyo International conference on African Development (TICAD) was a sign of faith in the continents economic future prospects.

The conference is set to take place from June 1 - 3 in Yokohama with the aim to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners.

The envoy further commended Kenyans for their peaceful conduct in the last general election held under the new Constitution.

TICAD is a major global framework to facilitate the implementation of initiatives for promoting African development under the dual principle of African “ownership” and international “partnership”.

This is the second time that Takata has graced the Standard Media house the latest being in October 2012 where he urged Kenyans to vote peacefully to ensure a smooth transition in Government.