Nigerian businessmen are set to operate seven oil blocs for exploration from the 46 newly discovered oil blocs in Kenya.
The Chairman of the Kenya-Nigeria Chambers of Commerce, Dr Kiprono Kittony, stated this before the signing of Memorandum of Understanding in several areas between both countries at the Nigeria/Kenya business forum held at banquet hall of the President Villa.
Both President Goodluck Jonathan and President Kenyatta presided over the closing ceremony.
The signing ceremony brought together leading business men and women from both countries under the auspices of the Kenyan-Nigerian Business Forum ( KNBF) which was inaugurated at the occasion, the two countries expressed the desire to ensure that the two countries fully explored the business potentials of the two countries.
Amina Mohamed, the Kenyan Minister Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Dr. Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Trade and Investment of Nigeria jointly drove the process. The Kenyan leader came to Nigeria with a large delegation of 41 people representing various economic interests,
According to Kittony, the Joint Kenya-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce inaugurated during a State visit of President Jonathan to Kenya in September last year, gave smooth sailing to the details.
Kittony said that it was exciting to see numbers of Nigerian investors coming to Kenya after the Jonathan’s visit.
He also disclosed that Kenyan Airways had Increased the numbers of flight to Lagos to 10 in a week and has promised to enhance the capacity of the flights.
He added that Kenyan Airways will also from June 6 begin direct flight to Abuja.
Kittony said there had also been investment in the financial sector with three Nigerian banks now operating in Kenya
“Within the next four years we will see increased business cooperation and flow of trade.
“We appreciate the support we got from government of both countries,” he said.
Kittony said about 41 top business men from eight sectors accompanied President Kenyatta on the state visit.
“We have representation from the manufacturing, hospitality, health care industry, financial services,
“We also have representations from information and communication technology. Agriculture, cotton textile and the real estate,” he said.
Co-chairman of the Joint Chamber of Commerce and Nigeria business mogul Alhaji Aliko Dangote said eight companies from Kenya had established offices in Nigeria.
Dangote who was represented by his brother, Sanni, said that in the area of food and beverages “Kenya tea is now very popular in the Nigerian market”
He disclosed that there is a proposed establishment of hospitality training institute in Nigeria with the technical support from Kenya.
Dangote added that given the immense popularity of the Nigerian movie industry in Africa, Nollywood’s proposed movie institute to be established in Nigeria will assist in the trainig of Kenyan actors.
Jonathan in his remarks noted that Kenya and Nigeria have established a shared relationships anchored on a stable world. Nigeria and the Kenya have always had the development at heart.
He said the two countries had the opportunities to expand on the deals to deliver all the deliverables. The two countries should take steps to enhance the industrialization of the two countries and the continent in General.
He urged business in the time countries to take advantage of the new deals contained in the agreements and MoU by working hard towards realizing their objectives contained therein.
He noted that with the inauguration of the forum coming at the nick of the commencement of the World Economic Forum for Africa ( WEFA), which Nigeria is hosting the President urged the Kenyan delegation and other African countries to take the opportunities by making relevant business contacts with a view to developing their economies.
In his view, “WEFA scheduled for Wednesday this week is not just about Nigeria, but about Africa as a way of attracting direct foreign investment to Africa, as I want you to see the inauguration of the business forum as as pre-flag off of the WEFA.
“We are determined to win the terror battle aimed at in stilling fears into us, the people are making mistake because our agenda is to transform our Economies and improve the lives of our people . The forum is coming at a time that the continent need a lot of foreign investments into the continent for the purpose of development”.
He expressed the hoped that with the inauguration of the forum, the volume of trade and investment between the two countries would increase.
He expressed the desire to ensure that the objectives of expanding the business opportunities among the two countries grows rapidly.
Kenyatta also in his remarks, said Kenya had perfected the partnership between the public and private sectors have been growing and pledged to share that experiences with Nigeria. He also said Kenya have greater inexperiences in the private sector participation in businesses and said Kenya was ready to share the experiences of the best practices with Nigeria.
Membership of the forum includ, Alhaji Aliko Dangote President of Dangote Group of Companies,(Co-Chair); Alexander Chika A Okafor of CHICASON Group of Companies; Ben Murrau Bruce, President of Silverbird Group; Alhaja Bola Shagaya CEO of PRACTOIL,; JIM Ovia CEO of Visafone; Oghens Sanomi, CEO of Talevetas Group; Tunde Olayeni, Chairman of Skye Bank; Richard Akerele CEO of ASL; Sani Dangote Chairman Dansa Holdings and Chuma Anosike, Chairman of the NKCC (Nigeria-Kenya Chambers of Commerce),
From Kenya, there are James Mwangi, CEO of Equity Bank, Paul Ndugu Chairman Mobicom, Safaricoms, Joe Kibe CEO Mobicom, gins Din Kariuku CEO Gina Din Group, Sam Kiruthu, Chairman Cellulant, Bharat Thakrar, CEO Scangroup, Joanne Mwangi, CEO PMS Group, Jillian Usagi, CEO House of Chemicals, Kiprono Kittony, Chairman Kenya-Nigeria Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Co-Chair and James Ndungu, Chairman EACCIA.
