PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS MEETS THE PRESIDENT IN KENYA

KEPSA meets the President to discuss Kenya's Industrialization and Competitiveness Agenda
KEPSA met the President, his Excellency Mwai Kibaki on 27th July during its bi annual meeting, the Presidential Private Sector Working Forum (PPSWF) at Harambee house, Nairobi to discuss Kenya’s Industrialization and Competitiveness Agenda. KEPSA called for a complete paradigm shift in the current context of high cost of living, energy shortages, drought and famine situation by the government and all stakeholders to focus on factors of production and give incentives to enhance sustainability rather than focusing on factors of consumption.

On the other hand, KEPSA commended the government for various milestones achieved with regard to the implementation of the new Constitution and other infrastructural developments that will sustain the country as an economic hub regionally and beyond.
KEPSA however urged the government ministries to be mindful of timeliness in public procurement processes as well as during implementation of various development projects. It appreciated that Kenya was pioneering in the public private sector engagements through a policy framework formulated by the Ministry of Finance.
KEPSA suggested to the government to mitigate the current drought and famine in the country by capacity building in the irrigation sub sector within the agriculture sector to ensure food security and avoid over-reliance on rain-fed farming. In addition the government should now shift focus by improving inter-ministerial coordination among relevant ministries on food security issues to avert this perennial disaster.

Other issues discussed included the establishment of the Special Economic Zones as key drivers to addressing unemployment, increasing competitiveness and achievement economic growth; national security; exploiting the potential in Business Process Outsourcing sector and reviving the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The KEPSA team was led by Vimal Shah, the Vice Chairman.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS GETS A BOOST THROUGH MENTORSHIP

MSME Gets a Boost in Mentorship

The MSME Mentorship program launched on 20th July, 2011 at the Hilton Hotel from 7:00am to 9:00am.

Inorero University (IU) with support from the Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi and in collaboration with the International Labour Organization – through the Youth Entrepreneurship Facility (ILO – YEF); Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE); Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA); Africa Youth Trust (AYT); Enablis and Kenya Association of Women Business Owners (KAWBO) has developed a system of training and qualifying business mentors/ advisors who will provide support to the many firms operating in both the formal and informal economy in Kenya in order to contribute to more sustainable enterprise development. The role of the trained business mentors is to generate advice and provide technical support on growth opportunities and of possibilities of financial and other support services on a regular basis to entrepreneurs – and especially young entrepreneurs.
Course Structure

The course shall be offered twice a month, i.e., 4 consecutive days (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) per month, for a period of 5 months, with the sixth month dedicated towards project defense. The 4 days are further distributed into 2 days of Business Dimension learning and another 2 days of Personal Leadership and Mentoring Skill development. The courses are Module based. (Accumulation of various training areas delivered on agreed time frame), the 6 modules are as follows:
• Understanding the nature of the Mentee/ Entrepreneur’s business
• Understanding the nature of the Mentee/ Entrepreneur’s market, value proposition and delivery systems; Strategy contemplation
• Creating and financing Mentee business growth
• Taking advantage of Business Environment in East Africa; what do I need to know?
• Leading Mentee Business and Entrepreneur growth
• Final Project Work based on the Mentee/ Entrepreneur Enterprise

Trade logistics and the investment climate gets a major boost

Kenya Private Sector Alliance gets 38M to improve Kenyan trade logistics and the investment climate

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), signed a Grant Agreement TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) Kenya Country Programme on July 14, 2011
Numerous problems, barriers and impediments were identified as the biggest Non-Tarrif Barriers (NTBs) to smooth and efficient trade not only within Kenya, but in the larger East African market. KEPSA was mandated to act as a facilitator of the process to address these impediments, while ensuring full consultation and inputs from all the relevant Government Ministries Departments and Agencies (MSAs) and Private Sector players.

Through TMEA financial support, KEPSA will provide leadership in the development of National Investment Master Plan (NIMP). A supportive communication strategy will also be developed to ensure that the public is sufficiently informed. KEPSA will also engage stakeholders in addressing bottlenecks at the port of Mombasa and the persistent delays at weighbridges. To provide leadership in driving the EAC integration process on behalf of its members, KEPSA will identify bottlenecks Kenyan businesses encounter in regional trade activities. This work will be coordinated with Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) to ensure synergy.
TMEA seeks to support East African integration by unlocking economic potential through:
• Reducing costs of transport along key corridors on East Africa;
• Supporting EAC institutions to develop a comprehensive framework for regional integration;
• Supporting partner states to substantially increase the implementation of a comprehensive framework for regional integration; and
• Engaging private sector and civil society to positively influence regional integration policies and practices for growth in trade.

African Organization for Standardization signs an MOU with KATS-KOREA

The African Organization for Standardization (ARSO)Visited Seoul, Korea and signed an MOU with the Korean Agency for Technology (KATS) on 1st June 2011.

the MOU acknowledged the importance and contribution of standardization and conformity assessment to value addition improvement, production efficacy and commercial exchange of goods and services

Among the salient features of the MOU is the need to support capacity building for harmonization of National,Regional Economic Communities (RECs)and international standards and shall encourage and improve global trade as well as consumer protection and help in the capacity building programs to benefit both the member States of ARSO and the Republic of Korea

EAST AFRICA COMMUNITY GETS A NEW SECRETARY GENERAL

EAST AFRICA COMMUNITY GETS A NEW SECRETARY GENERAL

Dr. Richard Sezibera, a Medical Doctor from the Republic of Rwanda was picked to head the East African Community as the Secretary General, replacing Mr. Juma Mwapachu.

Mr. Juma Mwapachu is credited with overseeing the establishment of the EAC Customs Union and the Common Market while Dr. Richard Sezibera is expected to spearhead the next critical phase of integration which is the Monetary Union and the Political Federation

The east African community (EAC) is the regional intergovernmental organization of the republics of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, with its Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The treaty for the establishment of the east African community (EAC) was signed on 30th November 1999 and entered into force on 7th July 2000 following its ratification by the Original Three Partner States (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda)

The Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Burundi acceded to the EAC Treaty on 18th June 2007 and became full members of the community with effect from 1st July 2007

The EAC Secretariat is the executive arm of the Community.
SMES, East Africa

CIPE holds an Africa Partners Roundtable

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) organized a CIPE Africa Partners Roundtable “Strategies for Reform,” held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, at the White Sands Hotel, from December 7-9, 2010.

This roundtable on recognizing the vital and strategic role that business associations and think tanks play in advancing democratic and economic reform on the continent was an event for key CIPE partners and colleagues to actively engage in discussion and share best practices. The event provided participants with an opportunity to gain valuable tools from the most successful CIPE reform programs in the region, as well as further their network with other associations and think tanks in Africa to facilitate collaboration. The program involved a network of 20-25 distinguished CIPE partners from Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and others.

The active participants in the roundtable enhanced their organization’s strategic focus and programming, as well as gave them the opportunity to provide valuable input into CIPE’s strategy to support reform efforts on the continent.

We at SMES-EA wish CIPE all the best in their work in the African Continet

Kenya - Burundi Friendship week

The first ever Kenya-Burundi. Friendship week

The Kenyan Embassy in Bujumbura - Burundi organized a series of activities to mark the first ever Kenya-Burundi friendship week. These activities included a road race ; Football match between parliamentarians from Kenya and Burundi; A boda boda (Bike) race and Cultural night. These events were designed to enhance the cordial relationship that exist between the people of Kenya and Burundi and to foster closer partnership.