Ruto lauds Kenyans in Diaspora for role in country's economic growth

President William Ruto has commended Kenyans living abroad for their contribution towards the growth of the country’s economy. https://rb.gy/zla8x8

Transcript

00:00 [No audio]

00:05 ...Vice-Presidency Governors and Deputy Governors, Cabinet Secretaries, Chairs...

00:09 ...each level of government has a responsibility...

00:12 ...my request to you is that...

00:16 In our plan, we committed to create a dedicated State Department for Diaspora Affairs

00:22 whose mandate would be to improve government service delivery,

00:29 establish a Diaspora Forum,

00:32 promote greater local investment by Kenyans living abroad,

00:38 facilitate through intentional measures greater access to overseas employment opportunities for Kenyans,

00:46 foster the transfer of knowledge, skills, technology, and technology through strategic engagement,

00:56 promoting the welfare of Kenya's diaspora,

01:00 and leveraging our diaspora to enhance Kenya's international profile.

01:07 We have been committed to enrich our engagement with our brothers and sisters living and working abroad

01:14 beyond the asymmetrical preoccupation with remittances.

01:20 At any rate, the diaspora's contribution through remittances has overtaken the performance of our major exports

01:28 and now constitutes a major anchor of economic stability and driver of investments in our country.

01:37 The State Department of Diaspora Affairs is the host of the first Kenyan Diaspora Investment Conference

01:43 whose agenda is dedicated to facilitating richer conversation,

01:49 fostering greater understanding,

01:51 and strengthening our partnership in investment promotion across various sectors of our economy.

01:59 This event, therefore, eloquently testifies to the government's commitment in delivering its commitment to the diaspora.

02:09 I am encouraged to note that during this conference,

02:13 you are going to be engaged in robust deliberations on various dimensions of investment,

02:19 from general experience to sectoral components like financial services, real estate, and strategic value chains

02:28 like agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, and of course, the new sphere of creating creative economy.

02:38 I am glad to note further that this conference promises to facilitate rewarding engagements

02:44 on such specialized investment areas as public-private partnerships, the fintech and startup ecosystems,

02:53 and that the Kenya investment environment, which has now significantly upgraded its attractiveness proposition

03:03 as well as aspects of social welfare and social protection relevant to both you living in the diaspora

03:13 and to your families living here in Kenya.

03:16 [BLANK_AUDIO]