Kenya to reap big for being first African country to host Tokyo International Conference on African Development
Kenya is set to play host to over 10,000 delegates attending the sixth session of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad), the first time the conference is being held in Africa.
About 4,000 of these delegates will be from Japan led by the Prime Minister. The conference comes a month after Kenya hosted the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD. This has not only thrusted Kenya into international limelight but opened up the country to more investment while reaping from tourism.
With TICAD happening between August 27th and 28th this year, it is projected that businesses in Kenya’s capital Nairobi will mint over $250 million in accommodation and deals.
Governor Evans Kidero and Japanese ambassador Toshisugu Uesawa said Kenya will also benefit from foreign direct investments and other business deals that will be signed at the event. This is the first time the Ticad meeting is being held outside Japan.
“Kenyan’s economy is leading in the region and our corporation with this country has been solid for many years. That is why it was not hard for it to host this conference,” said Uesawa.
“This summit represents a big vote of confidence in Nairobi and Kenya, and you can all be proud that your beautiful country has earned this singular owner,” the ambassador said.
The conference will be attended by over 30 heads of state and more than 10,000 delegates. Some of the participants have started arriving in the city.
“This is direct money that our businesspeople will get leave alone foreign direct investments and other business deals that will be signed,” said Kidero.
The governor said over 2,000 Japanese business titans, among them top executives from Toyota and Mitsubishi Motor Corporation will attend the conferences.
“We hope Kenya Association of Manufacturers and the Kenya Private sector alliance will find new partners,” he said.
“Our taxis will also benefit because they will be moving delegates from one place to another. So it is a blessing to us.”
Kidero said the summit has placed Nairobi and Kenya in the limelight globally again. Last month, the city hosted the United National Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Last year, Nairobi hosted World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference, Pope Francis and US President Barrack Obama who was in the country for the Global Entreprenuership Summit.
