Executive Summary
The Kenya France Business Club (KFBC) held the first “Business Beyond Borders” forum in Paris, France on
2 December 2016.
Business Beyond Borders is a non-profit initiative whose aim is to promote and strengthen economic
relations between Kenya and the Francophone world by offering a platform for thought-leaders, subject
matter experts, private sector companies, Government agencies and investors to establish strategic
alliances, forge strong partnerships and exchange ideas for mutual benefits.
It aims also to explore several strategies and programs that have been earmarked by the government to
attract investments in all fields.
The forum discussed the trends of doing business in Kenya and the existing investment opportunities in
the country. The participants included CEOs and representatives of major companies such as EDF, Bolloré
Transport & Logistics, Group ACCOR, Investment Banks, as well as private investors, and owners of small
and medium enterprises.
The forum also included a site visit to the Suez Environment in Ile de France, organised and sponsored by
the Kenya France Business Club. Suez is a leading French company specializing in innovation, renewable
energy and water collection and distribution. The visit highlighted the potential of regional collaboration
for the conversion of waste into clean energy (over 60,000 MW per year) within the economic blocks of
Kenya. The visit led to fruitful discussions between the delegates and management team of Suez
Environment, enabling the discovery of best case practices put in place by Suez in the treatment, disposal
and recycling of urban waste. Some members of the delegation resolved to continue talks with Suez
Environment after the visit.
Opening Remarks – H.E Ms. Salma Ahmed, Ambassador of Kenya to France
Ms. Ahmed laid the foundation by highlighting the existing investment opportunities and potential to be
exploited that lay in France and Kenya. Kenya is currently looking to increase the megawatts of energy in
electricity, and policies have already been put in place for energy companies to invest in the sector. France
on the other hand, has many energy companies hence the two countries can see how they can exploit this.
Emphasizing on the importance of an analysis of where the potential of investment is between the two
countries, Ambassador Ahmed reiterated the willingness of the Kenyan Embassy to assist French investors
in identifying investment opportunities available in Kenya. Other existing opportunities lie in sectors such
as agribusiness and solid waste management.
Keynote note address – Hon. Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism
Hon. Balala begun his remarks by informing the audience that the government of Kenya was investing a
lot to make it a middle income country. Kenya’s GDP has grown by 6% in the last year and it is currently the
biggest economy in the East Africa Region with the service industry making up the bulk of the economy.
He acknowledged the fact that African countries rank poorly in ease of doing business but also highlighted
efforts made by the Kenyan government to improve this to encourage more investment in the private
sector. The country is currently placed 92 out of 190 countries that were ranked in the ease of doing
business survey, a great improvement from position 133 in 2015. According to Hon. Balala, some of the
measures taken by the government to improve the ease of doing business are: removal of roadblocks to
starting a business such as stamp duty fee requirement, improved access to electricity by reducing the
time needed to obtain an electricity connection, increased transparency in property registration process,
and better means of resolving insolvency.
Other factors touched on by Hon. Balala on contributing to an encouraging business environment include
the digitization of government services through the one stop shop service centre called “huduma centre”.
This centre offers all government services ranging from issuing of duplicated National Identity Cards, single
Business Permits, search and Registration of Business Names, e-visa application, and more. There are 37
huduma centers around the country and Hon. Balala proudly noted that the service center was ranked first
globally in the United Nations Public Service Awards.
The Kenyan government has also prioritized certain sectors such as security, infrastructure energy, health,
agriculture and education. Hon. Balala then proceeded to emphasize the importance of the tourism sector
mentioning that the sector contributes heavily in job creation, employing 9% of the population. He noted
changing trends where, while the country received the majority of its visitors from Europe, the country is
currently welcoming more visitors from African countries, China, the UAE and India. The number of visitors
from France has declined from 100,000 to 20,000 visitors annually. He attributed this change to what he
termed as ‘the perception problem’. He noted that most people have a negative perception associating
the country to terrorism, robbery, disease among others. However, those who are resilient enough to tour
the country leave with a changed perception of the country.
There are incentives by the Kenyan government to encourage tourism and these include removal of visa
fees for children, reduction of park entry fees, VAT exemptions for construction of theme parks and
refurbishment of new and old hotels.
New investments in the tourism sector coming into the country include but are not limited to: Accor group
of hotels, Radisson Blu, Kempinsky, Coldstone, KFC, Hyatt regency among others. Hon. Balala concluded
by inviting potential investors stating that Kenya is open and ready for business.