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Category: Africa News

Written by Lola Okulo

GERMAN chancellor Angela Merkel’s first visit to Kenya in July has boosted the interest of German companies in the country with the embassy reporting an increase in inquiries from investors. German Ambassador to Kenya Margit Hellwig-Boette said yesterday that Merkel’s visit to Kenya grew the confidence of investors from that country resulting in interest to launch their operations locally.

Already two major firms among them Nokia Siemens which is partly German have recently launched their operations in Kenya. Hellwig-Boette added that another major firm B.Braun which is medical supplies business will also be opening up its Nairobi base soon. “There is a lot of optimism around business activities in this area,” remarked Hellwig-Boette. She was speaking during the launch of Messe Frankfurt Group, a German trade fairs and exhibitions company. It is one of the largest companies in that industry worldwide.

According to the Ambassador, most of the companies interested in the Kenyan market are those in the renewable energy industry especially solar companies.

She however urged the Kenyan government to sustain demand for investment into the country through creating an enabling business environment through judiciary reforms that trickle down to the lowest level and fighting corruption. “The new head of the anti-corruption body should have been nominated by now because the deadline to do so has passed……..the culture of kitu kidogo should end because Germans do not do this and they will not put up with it,” cautioned Hellwig-Boette.

Messe Frankfurt has an annual turnover of 448.3 million Euros (Sh54 billion), holds 87 fairs and exhibitions globally and records approximately 2.4 million annually for its events. The Nairobi office will be based at the Kenyatta International Trade Fair.

Messe Frankfurt’s local representative Skander Negasi said the firm’s operations in Kenya will help local businessmen connect with other global markets through information on relevant trade fairs and exhibitions for each industry and enterprise.

An office of the German Economic delegate is also set to be opened in Nairobi in January 2012 to act as a point of contact between Kenyan companies and German investors. It will be the fifth such office in Africa after those in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Cairo. The office is set up through a bilateral agreement between the German government and that of a country deemed to have a large economic potential.

AllAfrica – All the Time