Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has today presided over the launch of the third Kenya International investment conference (KIICO).
The summit to be held between May 29-31 in Nairobi will bring together more than 2,000 delegates from the government, private sector, development partners, and non-state actors, and key Africa trading blocs.
It is aimed at "developing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation matrix and roadmap to position Kenya as the gateway to Africa," he said.
Speaking during the event, Kuria said the next competitive arena in the world economies is going to be on the size of the market.
"It is of utmost importance that Kenya participates in a strong and integrated Africa Continental Free Trade Area that will drive the unlocking Africa agenda," he said.
The only way to unlock it, he noted, is through the AfCFTA.
"We need African businesses to grow, we need them to expand across the entire African market. Let us not be 'champions in our villages' while we have a 1.3 billion population market that we can serve across the continent," Kuria said.
Highlighting its importance, the CS said the conference will provide an opportunity for the private sector to talk directly to the government.
It will not only showcase investment opportunities but also present bankable investment projects developed in partnership with Africa Exim Bank.
President William Ruto has been pushing for the implementation of continental free trade saying it presents immense opportunities for exponential economic growth through trade and investment.
"Today, Africa contributes only three per cent of global trade yet it has 17 per cent of the world’s population and market,” he said.
