The County Government of Turkana in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), launched an investment portal on 30th March 2023 aimed at promoting investment in the County. The launch which was held at the Cradle Hotel in Lodwar, Turkana was presided over by County Secretary Peter Eripete and Markus Kimani, Operations Officer and Programme Lead for the Kenya Investment Climate Project (KICP-3).
The investment promotion portal is the result of a partnership between the County Government and the IFC’s Kenya Competitiveness Enhancement Program (KCEP), through its advisory services – Kenya Investment Climate Project 3, and Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund (KKCF).
Speaking during the launch, CS Eripete, who represented Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, said that the portal would serve as a one-stop platform for attracting and facilitating Local and Foreign Direct Investments into Turkana County. He added that the portal would assist investors in accessing information quickly and conveniently on investment opportunities in the county.
He said: “This initiative will assist the County Government to attract investors by highlighting investment opportunities in Turkana County and facilitate the investment journey from an inquiry to investment. Some of the key reforms undertaken under the partnership include the development of a legal framework to support Investment Promotion in the County (Investment Promotion Corporation Bill, 2023) that will soon be tabled before the County Assembly.”
The portal development is a result of a partnership between the county and IFC through an Advisory Agreement signed in August 2019. The Department of Trade, Gender and Youth Affairs was mandated to promote investments in the county and is leading the implementation of the project together with IFC.
Kimani said the portal will publicise investment opportunities in the county as it will assist in attracting investors.
“It enables the county to publicise investment opportunities in priority sectors. It is interactive enabling investors to raise queries and the County Government will address those queries and engage with the investors. It also supports investors throughout the investment journey,” he explained.
In her address, County Executive for Trade Elizabeth Loote revealed that implementation of the Turkana Investment Promotion Portal had supported the capacity building of staff in trade and other departments through ICT skills, investment promotion and investor care, change management, and business communication skills training.
The CEC added that the Department of Trade and other county departments had identified and profiled four priority sectors for investment including Tourism and Hospitality, Water, Livestock and Fisheries, Real Estate, and Trade and Logistics. She said that priority sectors are aligned with Governor Lomorukai’s Nine Point Development Agenda.
County Executives Dr Michael Eregae (Finance and Economic Planning), James Wangiros (Public Service) and Leah Audan (Education); County Attorney Erastus Ethekon; Chief Officers Simon Etom (Water Services), Peter Lomorukai (Preventive and Promotive Health), John Korikel (Ag. Infrastructure) and Mark Amiyo (Ag. Trade) also attended the launch.
County Solicitor Ruth Emanikor, Economic Advisor Dr Ekai Richard, County Director for Trade James Lokwale and a host of other senior County Officials were also present.
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