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[h=1]Major trade deals top agenda as China PM visits Kenya[/h]
By George Omondi
Posted Thursday, May 8 2014 at 20:38
In Summary
Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang is expected in Nairobi Friday afternoon at the start of a three-day visit whose agenda is topped by a possible signing of multi-billion- shilling deals and a review of the existing commercial relations.
The Foreign Affairs ministry said Mr Li would use his three-day visit to tour Chinese-sponsored projects and hold bilateral talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
His visit comes at a time when Chinas profile as Africas economic partner has continued to rise, making the Asian giant the top financier of key sectors such as infrastructure development.
Kenya is among the four countries that Mr Li is visiting in a journey that analysts see as mapped out on the footprints of Beijings most important economic interests in the continent.
Premier Li began his visit in Addis Ababa, before moving on to Abuja where he addressed the World Economic Forum Africa summit and will move on to Luanda on the final leg of his journey.
Kenyas Foreign Affairs ministry said in a statement that Mr Kenyatta and his guest would explore co-operation in trade, investment, infrastructure development, energy, finance, agriculture, aviation, space technology, information and communication, during the visit.
The leaders will further cement the Comprehensive Co-operation Partnership that exists between the two countries, the statement added.
Though a major recipient of concessional loans for infrastructure development, Kenya has been a legal land mine for Chinese firms a number of which have run into strong procurement headwinds that remain unresolved.
The construction of a Sh320 billion Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Rail (SGR), the Sh56 billion Nairobi Greenfield International Airport Project and Sh8.5 billion Police Surveillance Communication Command and Control system have all been hit by legal challenges, delaying their commencement.
READ: LSK fails to stop rail plan ahead of Chinese PM visit
Last week, Mr Li was quoted in international media as having instructed Chinese firms to abide by African tendering laws and protect the interests of communities in their areas of operation.
There are isolated cases that go against our policy of equality and mutual benefit, but the government is willing to sit down with African countries to resolve them, Mr Li told Chinese news agency Xinhua ahead of his Africa tour.
Data from the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi indicates that some 50 Chinese companies are executing 80 road, railway, housing, water processing, power upgrading, geothermal well and ports projects valued at Sh170 billion ($2 billion).
Mr Lis visit comes amid increased activity by Somali-based Al-Shabaab terrorist group, who have carried out at least four bomb attacks in the past two weeks alone, adding agency to the police surveillance equipment project.
Kenyan businesspeople hope the visit will see a renewal of trade relations between the two countries and open new areas of co-operation.
By George Omondi
Posted Thursday, May 8 2014 at 20:38
In Summary
- Infrastructure financing and trade top the agenda in Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang's tour of Africa.
- The Foreign Affairs ministry said Mr Li would use his three-day visit to tour Chinese-sponsored projects and hold bilateral talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
- Kenya is among the four countries that Mr Li is visiting in a journey that analysts see as mapped out on the footprints of Beijings most important economic interests in the continent.
Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang is expected in Nairobi Friday afternoon at the start of a three-day visit whose agenda is topped by a possible signing of multi-billion- shilling deals and a review of the existing commercial relations.
The Foreign Affairs ministry said Mr Li would use his three-day visit to tour Chinese-sponsored projects and hold bilateral talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
His visit comes at a time when Chinas profile as Africas economic partner has continued to rise, making the Asian giant the top financier of key sectors such as infrastructure development.
Kenya is among the four countries that Mr Li is visiting in a journey that analysts see as mapped out on the footprints of Beijings most important economic interests in the continent.
Premier Li began his visit in Addis Ababa, before moving on to Abuja where he addressed the World Economic Forum Africa summit and will move on to Luanda on the final leg of his journey.
Kenyas Foreign Affairs ministry said in a statement that Mr Kenyatta and his guest would explore co-operation in trade, investment, infrastructure development, energy, finance, agriculture, aviation, space technology, information and communication, during the visit.
The leaders will further cement the Comprehensive Co-operation Partnership that exists between the two countries, the statement added.
Though a major recipient of concessional loans for infrastructure development, Kenya has been a legal land mine for Chinese firms a number of which have run into strong procurement headwinds that remain unresolved.
The construction of a Sh320 billion Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Rail (SGR), the Sh56 billion Nairobi Greenfield International Airport Project and Sh8.5 billion Police Surveillance Communication Command and Control system have all been hit by legal challenges, delaying their commencement.
READ: LSK fails to stop rail plan ahead of Chinese PM visit
Last week, Mr Li was quoted in international media as having instructed Chinese firms to abide by African tendering laws and protect the interests of communities in their areas of operation.
There are isolated cases that go against our policy of equality and mutual benefit, but the government is willing to sit down with African countries to resolve them, Mr Li told Chinese news agency Xinhua ahead of his Africa tour.
Data from the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi indicates that some 50 Chinese companies are executing 80 road, railway, housing, water processing, power upgrading, geothermal well and ports projects valued at Sh170 billion ($2 billion).
Mr Lis visit comes amid increased activity by Somali-based Al-Shabaab terrorist group, who have carried out at least four bomb attacks in the past two weeks alone, adding agency to the police surveillance equipment project.
Kenyan businesspeople hope the visit will see a renewal of trade relations between the two countries and open new areas of co-operation.