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President Dr William Ruto is expected in Nyanza today to officially open the Nyanza International Investment Conference that ends tomorrow.

The two-day conference in Kisumu brings together local and international investors, national and county government officials and the private sector to explore investment opportunities in the region.

Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo told the media that the Head of State will lead a team of local and international investors to explore the region’s untapped potential.

The conference, Owalo said, will unpack the existing and potential development challenges and turn them into investable opportunities for the investors.

Spur investments

Owalo said the conference was in line with the government’s directive to promote public private partnerships (PPP) to spur investments and grow the economy.

Among the areas to be exploited include infrastructure, technology, health, agriculture and infrastructure. Governors from the six Nyanza counties of Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay, Kisii and Nyamira counties will be at hand to sign pacts with the potential investors.

Some of the key projects among them the Koru-Soin dam and the Lake Victoria ring road will be showcased to the investors as the government moves to scale up Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

The ring road whose design has been completed and approved, runs along the lake from Busia to Migori on the border of Kenya and Tanzania. The CS said will open up the Nyanza region for trade and investment, hence creating job opportunities for the youth.

Gain momentum

The CS said the drive to scale up PPP was gaining momentum disclosing that the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Water Zacharia Njeru has opened negotiations with investors from Indonesia to fund the construction of the Koru-Soin dam.

“The CS for water has just returned from Indonesia, where he has negotiated a PPP with investors. This is going to unlock funding to complete the project which has stalled,” he said.