Trade, Tourism & Investment

Doing Business with KENYA - New Beginnings

4 March 2003

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Since Independence, Kenya has not seen a time of greater opportunity. Recent developments such as:

• a renewed interest in emerging markets,

• the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and Kenyan support for it,

• the recent Kenyan election (with its smooth transition of power),

• the recent Kenyan foreign policy statement on Zimbabwe’s position in the Commonwealth, and

• the vigorous steps taken by the Kenyan Government to wipe out corruption

are factors, which without a doubt have positively influenced perceptions towards Africa in general and Kenya in particular. This was the reason for the Kenyan Government and the Kenyan Embassy in Berlin to initiate this highly successful conference, which was organised by Omega in association with the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce and Industry supported by the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and the Afrika-Verein.

The conference endorsed the views expressed by Dr. Carl Voigt, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce Frankfurt am Main, and Dr. Michael Blank, Director for Africa of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), to the effect that: “It is important, if not essential, that some African countries spearhead the development of the entire continent. Kenya is without a doubt among these leading nations.”

A high-powered Kenyan business delegation of more than 50 Kenyan companies and officials led by the Hon. Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, the Kenyan Minister for Trade and Industry, visited Germany on this occasion. Both, Germans and Kenyans were keen to explore business opportunities in one-on-one meetings and engaged in networking and discussions during the conference and afterwards, during a cocktail function hosted by Minister Kituyi.

The programme, which offered a good balance between German and Kenyan speakers, covered a large range of topics relating to trade, tourism and investment. It succeeded in transferring valuable information and gave assurance and encouragement to potential investors and traders.

Overall, the conference has received extremely positive feedback from delegates and speakers, Kenyans and Germans, and by that laid the foundation for “new beginnings” in doing business with Kenya. 

• Introduction and Overview:  
  Welcome statements by Dr. Carl Voigt, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Frankfurt am Main and HE Mr. Frost Josiah, Kenyan Ambassador to Germany, among others.

• Challenges and Opportunities:
  German entrepreneurs discussed their experience in the areas of trade, tourism and investment in Kenya.   Kenyan officials presented available incentives to German companies interested in doing business with Kenya.

• Success Stories:
  Examples of Kenyan and German success stories, and their experience of doing business in Kenya.

• Facilitation and Funding:
  Representatives of development finance institutions presented their funds available and funding criteria.

• The delegation of more than 50 Kenyan companies and officials was the first after the recent election and was led by the Hon. Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, the newly appointed Kenyan Minister of Trade and Industry.

• German participants were encouraged to register for one-on-one meetings with members of the Kenyan Delegation.

For more information on the above conference 
please contact Kristen Tremeer or Denise Koehler on tel: (27) 21 689-7881 
or e-mail kristen@omegainvest.co.za or denise@omegainvest.co.za