Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Tuesday called on regional countries to start undertaking projects that cut across the region, pointing out the need for regional economies to jointly plan projects that benefit the whole region.
Kibaki also expressed the need to implement a clear framework of facilitating private sector participation in infrastructure development either on its own or in partnership with governments.
"Think together. Plan together," the President challenged participants when he officially opened the Regional Infrastructure Conference whose theme is "Better Infrastructure, Better Life" on Tuesday.
He said through the capital markets countries in the region could tap domestic savings as well as global investment funds and commit them to infrastructure development through equity or debt mechanisms.
President Kibaki has urged increased investments in infrastructure development for global competitiveness in the region.
"It is on the basis of this understanding that my government, in collaboration with key stakeholders, organized this conference to review the status of infrastructure development and chart the way forward," the President said.
He noted that the conference brought together experts from the various infrastructure sub-sectors as well as members of the private sector and expressed confidence that the conference would come up with practical recommendations that are informed by experts as well as the end users of infrastructure.
Kenya's Minister for Roads Franklin Bett noted that the heavy investments being implemented by regional governments would be in vain if corresponding interventions are not taken to protect the installed facilities.
Bett stressed that stipulated regulations on load axle limits must be strictly adhered to so as to extend the lifespan of constructed roads while all bulk cargo should be transported by the railway.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-11-16 10:12:30 FeedbackPrintRSS
NAIROBI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua)
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