-The delagations in sepatate days included officials from Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM),United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development;
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS;
The Giant Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has pledged to collaborate with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) to increase exports through the ports of Mombasa and Lamu.
KPA’s Acting General Manager Engineering, Julius Tai told KAM members who were in a tour of the Port that KPA is committed to investing in the modernization of the ports, including re-equipping them with ship-to-shore gantries, Yard equipment and build more terminals.
Tai also mentioned that contractors are on site at Shimoni port, where a fishing port is being developed while Lamu and Kisumu Port were growing.
Tai assured KAM members that KPA is committed to supporting the growth of its partners, saying, “If you grow, we grow.”
The partnership between KAM and KPA is set to revolutionize the maritime industry, and the investments in port modernization and new facilities are expected to boost Kenya’s export potential and contribute to the country’s GDP growth from 7% to 20%.
Meanwhile there was a delegation from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) also had on an official tour at the Port of Mombasa.
The team led by Mr. John Dietrick, Chief Mor con, paid a courtesy call on the KPA Managing Director at his office where they were received by the General Manager Corporate Research, Strategy Planning and Compliance Ms. Evelyn Mwamure.
Mr. Dietrick said the Port of Mombasa remains incredibly critical for the Mission’s operations saying their supplies come through the Port.
“We are visiting this Port to maintain good relations and make sure that communication is open both ways and to find out if you have any issues with us. On our part we are grateful we have no issues with the port, “he said.
Addressing the visitors, Ms.Mwamure thanked them for the positive feedback and highlighted KPA’s capacity expansion programs and infrastructural developments.
The GM said following the completion of the second phase of the Second Container Terminal with additional berths, the Port of Mombasa has increased its annual capacity to 2.2 million TEUs.
She also updated the visitors about KPA’s second commercial Port in Lamu, which has three completed berths which can accommodate bigger vessels.
“We are just awaiting connectivity to the hinterland by road and rail which we expect will be ready by next year as we target South Sudan and Ethiopia,” said Mwamure.
At the same time a delegation from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development also visited the Port of Mombasa with a focus on KPA’s Green Port Policy.
The visitors led by Ms. Andrea Ulbrich, Senior Trade Policy Officer were received by acting General Manager Engineering Services Eng. Julius Tai on behalf of the Managing Director Capt. William Ruto.
She was accompanied by Germany Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) trade officials from the headquarters and GIZ Cluster Kenya during the courtesy call that would also see the visitors conducted on a guided tour of key port facilities.
“As Germany Government for Economic Cooperation we are very interested to see how you are progressing with your greening port. We would like to see how this is working in Kenya and your strategic goals for the future,” said the head of the delegation.
KPA has adopted a Green Port Policy (GPP) that is being implemented for sustainable and environment port operations, and protection of marine ecosystem and resources.
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