Have called on the Brazilian business community to partner with Kenyans and take advantage of diverse investment opportunities.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has called on the Brazilian business community to partner with Kenyans and take advantage of diverse investment opportunities in the country.

Mr. Musyoka said Kenya prides itself with a most competitive manufacturing sector which includes textiles and apparel manufacturing, metal engineering and motor vehicle assembly, thus an opportunity for interested partners in both countries to engage and strategize for mutual benefits.

He noted that both countries’ tourism industries are quite dynamic, boosted by good infrastructure net work, research and development over the years.

“There is room for partnership in this sector especially in construction of modern hotels in Kenya and employment of skilled Kenyans in Brazilian hospitality sector,” Mr. Musyoka added.

The Vice President was speaking today during the official opening of the First Brazil in East Africa EXPO 2011 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

The four day Trade Exhibition dubbed “The missing link” ends on 25th March, 2011.

Mr. Musyoka said Kenya’s importance to the Federative Republic of Brazil was recently underlined when His Excellency Luiz Inacio da Silva, made an official visit to Kenya on 5th to 6th July, 2010, the first visit by a President from Brazil and accompanied by a large contingent of Brazilian business delegation.

He said the Federative Republic of Brazil considers Kenya as an important partner in the East Africa Region having established a resident diplomatic mission in Nairobi way back in 1967 whereas Kenya opened an Embassy in Brasilia in October, 2006.

The Vice President noted that the choice of Kenya as entry to the East African region, will serve as access point for existing regional economic blocks COMESA, IGAD, and EAC, saying the three blocks have a combined population of close to 500 million people.

Mr. Musyoka said Kenya’s strategic focus towards Brazil and the wider South American economies are hinged the promotion of trade, investment and tourism.

He said the drive in opening new investment opportunities to foreign investors resonate quite well with Kenya’s Foreign Policy which place significant emphasis on economic and commercial diplomacy; as Kenya strives to realize long term development blue print commonly referred to as Kenya Vision 2030.