High Commissioner of Kenya Prof. Julius Kibet Bitok has invited the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) to participate in the forthcoming “Global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference” scheduled to be organized in Nairobi, Kenya from November 26 to November 28, 2018 which will be attended by around 6,000 delegates from different countries around the world.

Exchanging views with KCCI Office Bearers and Managing Committee members during his visit to KCCI, Kenyan HC said that the Blue Economy Conference, being organized with the support from European Union and Japan, would cover the entire ocean’s economy including fisheries, maritime, shipping and logistics etc. “It would provide a perfect networking platform to the business community of Karachi and add value to their products and services”, he added.

Honorary Consul General of Kenya Muhammad Hanif Janoo, President KCCI Junaid Esmail Makda, Senior Vice President Khurram Shahzad, Vice President Asif Sheikh Javaid and KCCI Managing Committee Members also attended the meeting.

Julius Bitok, while commenting on existing trade ties between Pakistan and Kenya, advised that both sides will have to focus on diversification as it has been observed that Pakistani rice and Kenyan tea were mainly being traded between the two countries. He also underscored the need to promote tourism opportunities between the two countries and enhance linkages between the business communities which would further strengthen the existing trade ties and yield positive results.

Kenyan HC further stressed the need to hold Pakistan’s Single Country Exhibition in Nairobi with a view to acquaint the Kenyan business community about the wide range of products and services being offered by Pakistan. While congratulating the Office Bearers on their victory in KCCI’s election, he was fairly optimistic that keeping in view their pragmatic approach, the new Office Bears of KCCI, among other things, will make sincere efforts to promote Pakistan-Kenya bilateral trade as well.

Speaking on the occasion, Honorary Consul General of Kenya, Muhammad Hanif Janoo, who is also Former President KCCI, stated that the Kenyan High Commission was providing hassle free online service for issuance of visas to people intending to visit Kenya and visas were being issued within 24 hours. “Anyone facing delays in obtaining visas should bring his issue to my notice and I’ll make sure that the required visa is timely issued”, he added.

President KCCI Junaid Esmail Makda, in his remarks, assured to look into the possibility of sending KCCI’s delegation to Kenya for participation in the Blue Economy Conference. Seeking more details about the forthcoming event, he assured to make sincere efforts for maximum participation of Karachi’s business community in this important conference which would help them find the right partners and explore trade enhancement opportunities in Kenya.

He said that the Karachi Chamber will also approach Trade Development Authority of Pakistan to seek assistance for staging Single Country Exhibition by KCCI in Nairobi, which should be staged at the sidelines of the Blue Economy Conference so that Pakistani products and services could get maximum exposure.

He said, “KCCI is keen to strengthen trade ties and explore new bilateral trade prospects with Kenya. We believe Pakistan’s improved relations and enhanced trade with countries like Kenya would surely help in dealing with the economic crisis, ensure prosperity and create a win-win situation for everyone.”

“In order to bring the business communities of the two countries more close to each other, KCCI is eager to sign Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with the Kenyan Government and its counterpart Chambers in Kenya which would surely prove favorable for both countries and yield positive results”, he added.

He also underscored the need to intensify trade and business activities between the two countries through frequent exchanges of trade delegations which would also result in identifying the irritants hindering trade and ensure economic prosperity for both the countries. “Pakistani and Kenyan governments must also work closely to remove all the irritants and actively play their role to facilitate trade”, he added.