Invest in Kenya, Uhuru tells Italy during Milan Expo

President Uhuru Kenyatta has returned to the country from Italy where he went to lead an international campaign to showcase Kenya’s growing investment opportunities and to market the country’s position as a preferred tourist destination.

The President, who traveled to Milan, Italy, on Sunday, for an official visit, kicked off the ‘Kenya Week’ at the Milan Expo 2015 to promote the expanding investment opportunities in the country.

The Expo, attended by more than 150 countries, provided the perfect opportunity to sell Kenya as a land of immense opportunities. Kenya’s theme for the Milan Expo 2015 was  “Kenya: The Land of Unlimited Possibilities.

Besides leading the campaign to market Kenya at the Expo, President Kenyatta held bilateral meetings with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and President Sergio Mattarella.

The Head of State also held separate meetings with leading figures of Italian businesses to boost trade between the two countries.

Uhuru held a bilateral meeting with the Italian Prime Minister on Monday during which Italy offered to support Kenya’s war against terrorism by providing counter-terrorism training for police officers and support the country with specialized equipment for border control and surveillance.

Boosting Trade

The President used the meeting to initiate a process to increase business and bridge the balance of trade between the two countries with a call to Italian companies to invest in Kenya’s manufacturing sector.

The Head of State and the Italian Prime Minister agreed that Italy’s Minister of Trade will visit Kenya soon to further the plans to boost trade between the two nations.

Kenya exported goods worth Ksh7 billion to Italy and imported Italian products worth Ksh20 billion last year.

At the Expo, President Kenyatta also unveiled a new brand campaign for Kenya dubbed “Make it Kenya” to promote and enhance Kenya’s position as a global leader in investment, commerce and tourism.

He also launched a new digital platform designed to link Kenya with audiences all over the world.

The objective of the new campaign is to market Kenya by having all the information about the country’s various tourist destinations, investment opportunities and culture readily available.