Chinese, British, Kenyan business organizations sign MoU

Jane Marriott, British high commissioner to Kenya, said she hopes that through the agreement, more companies from Great Britain, China and Kenya will set up or collaborate in the respective countries.

"We at the High Commission are always encouraging and helping British companies to invest in Kenya and are proud to welcome this partnership with China and Kenya," she said.

Marriott said the UK Department for International Development's Partnership for Investment and Growth in Africa is a good opportunity to explore the potential for UK businesses to partner with Chinese manufacturing or agriculture investments and for Kenyan private sector companies to make a positive impact in the east African country.

She said the UK firm's technical design, environment and contract management and provision of legal services knowhow and Chinese strengths in construction represent a winning solution for Infrastructure in Africa.

Carole Kariuki, CEO of Kenya Private Sector Alliance, said the MoU will reenergize the parties' engagement and build on the progress made since the signing of the first MoU in May 2017.

"The agreement is a crucial partnership in recognition of Kenya's long history of cordial relationship and cooperation with both the UK and China stretching over hundreds of years," she said.

Kariuki said her organization remains open to facilitate investment for UK and Chinese companies across Kenya by sharing investment information, facilitating links with relevant authorities and working together in public-private dialogue to address cross-cutting policy and business regulatory issues.

Li Changgui, chairman of Kenya China Economic and Trade Association, said since the signing of the first MoU about three years ago, more business interactions have unfolded.

"Our member enterprises have conducted substantial cooperation and communications with a number of British companies like Atkins, Risk Control, Pinsent Masons and PricewaterhouseCoopers and the cooperation areas have also been enlarged," he said.

Li hoped that the renewed MoU will continue to serve as a basis for cooperation among the three sides.

"I believe we can work out a mechanism to share our respective best practices in doing business here in Kenya," he said.