The County government of Kisumu is organizing for an International Investors Conference in September this year to woo investors to the region and also market the numerous investments opportunities in the County.

The County hopes to attract investors to various sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, industrialization, sports, health, culture and talent development, film, tourism, infrastructure and energy among others, according to local officials.

Speaking today during a meeting with the private sector organizations, ambassadors and representatives from different Kenyan embassies, Kisumu County Governor Professor Anyang’ Nyong’o expressed confidence in having a successful event stating that the meeting was the last of a series of precursor of events the county planned to have with government parastatals, the private sector and the local business community before the conference.

Mr. Samuel Matonda, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Chief Executive Officer commended the County Government for the steps and developments made to ensure the upcoming conference is successful.

He urged the County Government of Kisumu to put in place policies that will attract and retain investors. This include, robust awareness and marketing campaigns that will inform investors of the ‘openness, transparency, ease of doing business, flexibility and skills in labour markets.

“The great County should exercise its discretionary faculties to deploy incentives important for sustainability of investors. We know that the county has identified areas of its comparative advantage and would target value addition of indigenous capabilities”. Said Mr. Matonda.

The Chamber has committed to engage potential investors within their networks to promote expansion and development of investment in the great County of Kisumu and also to organize key foreign partners to improve market development, export and import initiatives between the County producers and the external markets. A move that aims to support the growth for SMEs which are instrumental in accelerating economic growth within the context of strong, reliable and supportive partnerships.

The Private Sector and the diplomatic community have challenged the County Government to focus on the comparative and competitive advantage of Kisumu being that it is within the Lake Region Economic Bloc and the East Africa Region and considered as an entry point to both regions, sitting at the shores of Lake Victoria thus enjoying maritime advantage.

Nyeri Deputy Governor, Dr. Carol Karugu referring to Governor Anyang Nyongo’s manifesto, highlighted the significance of the counties credit ratings and the prime investment opportunities in Kisumu.

So far, the 217 km stretch Meter Gauge Railway Line from Nakuru to Kisumu has been completed with passenger and cargo trains expected to be launched.

Kisumu port has also been refurbished at a cost of Sh3 billion and is set to be officially launched soon to reopen maritime trade between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The government has also secured land at Miwani in Muhoroni Sub-County for establishment of a public Economic Processing Zone (EPZ).

These amongst other incentives by the County and National governments are set to be discussed at length during the investor conference.

The meeting comes a few months to the Africities conference, which will take place in April next year. The Africities is a Pan-African event that is held every three years in one of the five regions of Africa.

The Kisumu Investment Conference is set for September 27th to 29th, 2021 in Kisumu County.

Present during the meeting were, H.E Ms. Saqlain Syedah, the High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr. Murat Kilinc, the Commercial Councilor, Turkish Embassy in Kenya, representatives from the Malaysian High commission, representatives from the Indian High Commission, Ireland embassy, Indonesia Embassy and the Israeli Embassy.