The County Government of Nakuru will host a major Business Expo that will bring together corporate organizations and businesses drawn from different sectors of the economy to showcase their products, services and capacity to serve the market in different counties.
Nakuru City Manager Gitau Thabanja said the aim was to bring different businesses stakeholders and exhibitors together across the counties to have a conversation on sustainable partnership in trade and development from September 26th to September 28th this year.
“This is part of the efforts by the County Government to attract both local and foreign investments and create employment opportunities,” Thabanja added.
The expo themed “Value Addition in Agriculture and Manufacturing will target critical sectors of the economy like building and construction, agriculture, manufacturing, oil, gas and energy, mining, water, auto industry among others.
Speaking during a meeting with representatives from the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Thabanja explained that the event will also showcase latest technologies and innovations that are critical in enabling local companies compete at the same level with their counterparts globally.
He said the expo is expected to lay out a blueprint for investors who need to know opportunities the county has to offer, and called on the business community to take advantage of the exhibition and learn of the opportunities available.
Thabanja further said this was an opportune time for other business players to come and grow networks, adding that the expo will also provide a platform for emerging entrepreneurs, with particular attention to high schools and college students.
The manager indicated that by involving students in the expo, they were targeting to inspire and cultivate entrepreneurial skills among the youth, ensuring they are well-prepared to contribute to the economy.
He explained that the approach reflects a broader strategy of linking education, agriculture and manufacturing in a way that benefits the city.
The expo will further offer local companies the opportunities for partnerships that offer the best route for them to go global.
At the same time, the expo will also feature a series of smaller meetings focusing on various topics, key among them investment, public-private partnerships, youth engagement and governance.
The young innovators, Thabanja added, will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas and products, fostering a new generation of business leaders.
“The expo will also focus on the environment and waste management, renewable energy, agribusiness, infrastructure, real estate and information technology-enabled services,” he stated.
The county government, the manager added, wanted to use its potential in geothermal energy, agriculture and real estate to market itself as the ideal investment destination.
Speaking separately, the county executive committee member in charge of Trade and Tourism, Stephen Kuria, said various studies had confirmed that Nakuru County had the most friendly-tax regime in the country, coupled with good governance, making it a favourable destination for both local and international investors.
By Esther Mwangi
