On November 21, 2018, Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi said his administration was ready to give Chinese investors free land and help them secure national government licences as the county pushed for new investment in agribusiness and hospitality.
Murungi made the pitch while meeting a delegation from China’s Anhui Province led by deputy governor Zhou Xi’an. He said Meru wanted investors in macadamia processing, packaging and hotel development, including a proposed hotel in Meru National Park.
The governor said the county would support investors who could process agricultural produce and also tap the Chinese market. He argued that Meru’s macadamia output and China’s demand created room for farmers to earn more from the partnership.
“Our county will support the Chinese investors in acquiring licences which slow down foreign investment. We will also provide free land and an educated labour force to support the investments,” Mr Murungi said.
Murungi also said Meru National Park had tourism potential but lacked enough hotel space. He said the county was looking for a Chinese investor to build accommodation and attract more Chinese visitors to the area.
Deputy governor Zhou said Anhui Province was interested in manufacturing partnerships that could create jobs and supply the Chinese market with quality goods. He said the province was building on the Kenya-China agreements reached around the China International Imports Exhibition.
He also pointed to a recent memorandum of understanding on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), which opened Kenya’s fresh produce to the Chinese market.
“China has now opened its domestic market to foreign investment more than ever before. We can partner with Meru in providing high quality goods to the Chinese market. We are glad that Meru County is giving priority to local development as well as foreign investment,” Mr Xian said.
Murungi said the county was especially interested in investors who could process produce for export and help local farmers benefit from access to China. In August 2018, he had already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese municipality of Huangshan in Anhui to strengthen trade ties with China.
