Kenya to Host the Ticad Summit

Kenya is yet again going to host another global business conference, the Tokyo 6th International Conference on Africa Development (Ticad) Summit, starting August 27–28, 2016.

The conference is expected to bring together close to 6000 delegates. Almost 300 Japanese corporate captains (CEO’s) and a number of African presidents are also expected to grace the two-day occasion that will be taking place in Nairobi.

The theme of the event will be boosting growth through trade and investment opportunities driven by the private sector. This platform will also be used by the business people from across the world to get partners in Kenya and in Africa as a whole.

Japan External Trade Organization (JTRO) executive vice president Katsumi Hirano stated that Japanese CEO’s have shown interest in investing in Africa, which will lead to creation of employment opportunities and also, growth of the economy and trade tied between Africa and the rest of the world.

The destination for this event was suggested by resident Uhuru Kenyatta during the previous UN Summit in New York. The president said that this will be an opportunity for Kenya and Africa to be in a position of providing decent and more productive jobs to the people of Africa.

The conference will also bring together representatives from the United Nations (UN), World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Ticad is said to be anchored on three pillars which include a robust and sustainable economy, inclusive and resilient society and peace and stability.

Africa is expected to be transformed through agriculture, industrialization and improve the investment sector. For the continent to grow, all these have to be worked upon so as to stabilize the African economy.

Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)vice president Hiroshi Kato disclosed that they were impressed by the Kenyan infrastructure, which is also supported by many literate people. He said that the country needs to improve on the investment sector adding that political instability in the country being one of the things that lead to slow economic growth.

Kato said that most Japanese companies work with countries with highly educated and skilled people, with creative solving skills and team work. He added that the only thing that Kenyan people need to work on is improving their practical skills so as to fil the gap existing between employment opportunities and education.

Article by Vera Shawiza.