Eliud Owalo, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, received a visit from a group from China led by Minister for Culture and Tourism Hu Heping and the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian.
The CS expressed interest in collaborating with China and other partners to produce computer software and enable local production of affordable cell phones.
The following potential areas of cooperation between Kenya and China were highlighted by CS Owalo: digital skilling, cyber security, digital inclusion, innovation through digital transformation, digital services, and applications.
Other potential areas included the promotion of e-commerce, the revitalization of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and the Kenya Postal Corporation, and emergency telecommunications by putting in place ICT infrastructure.
According to the ICT and The Digital Economy Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui, the government is strategizing on best ways to propel the digital economy by enhancing connectivity and growing the digital economy by making businesses out of the established infrastructure.
“China has been very successful in this space and we can have an opportunity to learn from them our bilateral relations are at the best time in history,” said PS Tanui.
PS Tanui appreciated the efforts by China to support various developmental projects in Kenya and encouraged the idea of collaboration between the two nations to implement projects such as the intelligent transport system that will bring efficiency in the transport sector.
On his part, Mr. Heping said that China and Kenya have understood each other on issues majorly related to their core interests and major concerns.
The Minister suggested that media outlets in both countries cooperate, and he added that cooperation between think tanks, such as academic institutions, will be essential for both nations’ progress.
Mr. Heping stressed the value of digital transformation in expanding the economies of both countries and promised to assist Kenya in pursuing its digitalization goal.
He pointed out that there are currently strong foundations on ongoing projects for cooperation between China and Kenya, and as they pursue them, additional chances will present themselves.
