Kenya and US explore business partnerships

By Chris Wamalwa in USA

Representatives from Kenya and the US state of Massachusetts held talks to explore areas in which mutually beneficial business partnerships could be formalised.

Kenyan Ambassador to the US, Elkanah Odembo and Massachusetts Governor, Deval Patrick met for a business roundtable at the Massachusetts office for Trade and Investment last Friday to explore opportunities for biotech, I.T. and clean energy partnerships.

During the meeting, the two discussed issues of mutual interest between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Republic of Kenya. The Governor expressed a strong desire to support Kenya’s endeavor in building sustainable partnerships with the private sector and public institutions in the state.

- Kenyan Ambassador to US Elkanah Odembo (Standing right) is welcomed by Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick. The two discussed ways of developing business partnerships between the State of Massachusetts and Kenya.

Mr Odembo told the governor that now is a prime time for Kenya to create more global partnerships due to favorable market conditions; good governance, a growing GDP and middle class that make Kenya an attractive place to do business.

"We have a middle class that is growing rapidly as a result of investments in education and healthcare. But, more importantly across the country, we are developing infrastructure, roads, transport, and we are not just doing them in specific counties. We are doing them across the board," he said.

The Governor and the Ambassador later addressed a business roundtable that brought together business people and representatives of major US companies from Massachusetts.

The focus of discussions was the need for strengthened partnerships with the private sector and the need for collaboration in taking advantage of the emerging trade and investment opportunities under Vision 2030.

Education is one of the areas the ambassador hopes Kenya and United States can find a common ground. He however expressed his disappointment in the fact that few US higher education institutions are formalizing partnerships that would create more exchanges with Kenyan universities.

"I think that any university that is serious about its place in the world, and concerned about making a difference has to have an international outlook. Mr. Odembo said during a visit to University of Massachusetts in Boston.

Odembo said: "Building the kind of partnerships that UMASS School of Nursing is building with the institutions in Kenya, whether it’s the university of Nairobi; whether it’s Aga Khan; or whether it’s Tumu Tumu is what will strengthen the institutions program. It is what will stand you apart from other institutions in this globalized world".

The State of Massachusetts has demonstrated global leadership in the area of education and the health sciences and this was identified as an area where institutions and the private sector in the State could establish partnerships with their Kenyan counterparts.

The Ambassador also urged US companies to take advantage of the major investment opportunities that Kenya has to offer under the Vision 2030 development blueprint such as infrastructure, ICT, energy and the just launched Lamu Port-South Sudan- Ethiopia (LAPSSET) Transport and Economic Development Corridor Project.

The Governor announced that he will lead a powerful trade and investment delegation to Kenya before the end of the year to signify the importance that his office is attaching to developing new opportunities to expand employment, trade and investment in support of the President’s National Export Initiative agenda.

As part of encouraging partnership with Universities in the health sector, the Ambassador also held a meeting with the senior faculty staff of the College of Nursing and Health Services of the University of Massachusetts.† The University has developed an exchange and training program between the University of Nairobi, the Aga Khan University, Kijabe School of Nursing and the Tumu Tumu School of Nursing.

At the Boston Athletics Association meeting with the Executive Director Thomas S. Grilk, the Ambassador discussed Kenya’s participation at the forthcoming Boston Marathon which Kenya has dominated over the last 20 years with men winning 17 times against 8 by the women. The BAA indicated their interest in supporting athletics association of Kenya.

- Making a case for Kenya. Kenyan ambassador to US Elkanah Odembo (standing), making a presentation on business opportunities in a devolved Kenya in Massachusetts, USA.

The Kenya Diaspora Council of New England also hosted the Ambassador for a dinner that was well attended by Kenyans resident in the Boston metropolitan area. The Ambassador briefed the Kenyans on the progress the Government is making in implementing the new constitution which allows the Diaspora to vote for the first time in Kenya’s history.

He also outlined the role that the Diaspora can play in realization of Vision 2030. He therefore urged Kenyans to take advantage of various investment opportunities especially the Infrastructure bonds as their contribution to this development initiative.

The Ambassador also addressed the 14th Annual Africa Business Conference organized by the Harvard Business School and made a presentation on the East African Community regional integration focusing on the key achievements, challenges and opportunities for the private sector.

The EAC is being regarded as one of the most successful and progressive regional blocs and there is tremendous interest by the US private sector on the developments taking place in the region.

(Mumbi-Michelle Kimani, from Boston contributed to this story).