Representatives of the two parties are signing the MoU. (Photo by Liu Hongjie/chinadaily.com.cn)
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Kenya China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA) and British Chamber of Commerce Kenya(BCCK) was signed Tuesday afternoon in Nairobi, capital of Kenya.
It was signed by Zhang Haifeng, Chairman of KCETA, and Graham Shaw, Chairman of BCCK, and witnessed by Liu Xianfa, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, and Nic Hailey, British High Commissioner to Kenya.
"The MoU will be a new start and set a good example for systematic tripartite cooperation, by providing a platform for the UK-China companies to explore and share trade and investment opportunities and expand areas of collaboration in Kenya," said Ambassador Liu at the signing ceremony.
He said the MoU provided a framework for cooperative relationship between companies of China and UK in Kenya and beyond, in many aspects, including information sharing, capacity building, project partnership, export promotion and enhancement of the friendship between the two countries.
"I hope that the two chambers could concentrate more strength from member companies by requesting them fulfill social responsibility, help local community, protect environment, and transfer technical skills so as to contribute more to the development of Kenya," Liu said.
In his speech, High Commissioner Nic Hailey said he had been constantly asked the questions: Are the UK and China competing in Kenya? And, are we trying to push China away or resist Chinese rising in Kenya?
His answer is: "This is a win-win. Of course, our companies sometimes compete with their business, sometimes our companies are tendering against each other or against French companies or Germany companies or others but ultimately these are win-win situations for both UK and China, for both UK and Chinese companies because as Kenya grows, as Kenya develops, there is an opportunity for both sides."
Hailey said the enforced cooperation between UK and Chinese companies would also benefit the host country Kenya, because the businesses that come together around this would produce even better results, even better development and even better partnerships for Kenyan businesses.
"This is a three-way win-win," he said.
In fact, China and the UK have a long history of extensive and profound interactivities. UK is the first Western country to recognize the People's Republic of China. In recent years, the two countries enjoyed close high level exchanges, in-depth cooperation in various fields, growing mutual understanding and friendship and closer communication and collaboration in international affairs.
The non-governmental intercommunication for economic activities is also improving.
KCETA has 79 members from 11 companies as council members, which are large and medium-sized state-owned and private enterprises. Since its establishment in January 2001, it has made great efforts in information communication and business cooperation among members and with companies from Kenya and other countries, including the 15 member companies of BCCK.
Under the MoU, the two parties agreed to collaborate in promoting trade relations and strengthening the relationships between the public and private sectors.
The MoU mainly includes supporting the operationalization of the UK-China Infrastructure Alliance in Kenya, in particular, through efforts to identify projects which could be suitable for the infrastructure hub; encouraging exchange of visits of industry experts, researchers, and private business actors, representatives of relevant institutions and exporters for networking and development of trade; promoting business innovation and technology transfer for the benefit of both parties; organizing and co-organizing Kenya-British Business Forum, seminars, workshops, conferences, and any other export promotion activities and in any mutually agreed third country to promote business and export opportunities that their respective countries offer.
The two parties also intend to establish a joint committee, with the objective of identifying areas of UK–China collaboration in Kenya's infrastructure sector, and to find and select suitable UK-China corporations. In addition, they will each appoint a focal point within its respective organization. They intend that the focal points will hold quarterly meetings to facilitate exchange of views to through letters, electronic mails, teleconferences and video conferences and may even call a meeting whenever necessary to cover specific issues, as deemed appropriate.
