Youths in the country have been challenged to be innovative and take advantage of government support aimed at creating job opportunities.
Principal Secretary (PS) State Department of Industrialization, Amb Kirimi Kaberia, who represented Cabinet Secretary of Industrialization, Ms Betty Maina. During the official launch of Africa Industrialization Week in Nanyuki, said the government has set the pace and the youths need to take cue and be innovative.
“Industries are enablers of trade and we want to be able to continue producing Kenyan made products, especially basic commodities,” Kaberia said.
The PS stressed that the government is committed to upscaling industrialization in the country through consolidation and re-energization, to enhance efficiency in the sector.
Kaberia added that the government is doing countrywide mapping aimed at identifying counties’ top ten prevalent natural resources, under an initiative dubbed ‘One Village, One Product’ (OVOP).
He said the initiative will help in identifying which areas to improve on and industries to be set up where, for easy management. “One Village One Product will improve the footprint of our industries and expand the knowledge transfer,” PS said.
The PS Ministry of Trade, Johnson Weru, urged youths to seek financial assistance set aside by the government to boost their businesses.
Laikipia Governor, Ndiritu Muriithi, appealed to Kenyans to promote locally manufactured products in a bid to transform the country’s economy. He noted that his Administration is supporting SMEs through offering them subsidized loans.
“Scaling up SMEs nationally will help the businesses to thrive and make Kenya industrialized,” County Boss said, thanking the National Government for choosing to host this year’s Africa Industrialization Week at the County.
This year’s theme which is “Industrialization Africa, Renewed Commitments Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization and Economic Diversification,” and it saw different types of SMEs in the County and outside County showcase their innovative products.
The invited delegates included agencies the Kenya Bureau of Standard, Kenya Industrial Property Institute, Anti- Counterfeit Authority among others who are instrumental in ensuring only quality products are in the market.
Africa Industrialization Week is commemorated on November 16th to 20th every year and is targeted at enhancing industrial growth and job creation among the youths and women in Africa.
The event which was launched, yesterday, is expected to end on November 21, 2021.
It is supported by the United Industrial Nations Development Organization (UNIDO).
By Muturi Mwangi and Cynthia Ronoh.
