27 January 2004	Tuesday	04 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Jan 26: Kenyan High Commissioner Mohammed Omar Soba has disclosed that Kenya is ready to sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Pakistan. "The matter initiated by Pakistan is likely to be finalized in February next at a meeting of Joint Ministerial Council of the two countries. Exact date for the meeting has not been fixed yet," he said in a meeting with Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Siraj Kassam Teli on Monday.

He asked Pakistani entrepreneurs to make investment in Kenya, saying this would help eliminate monopolies of 'other people' on trade and industry in Kenya, says a KCCI press release.

There is a lot of potential for investment in Kenya and all needed is aggressiveness on part of Pakistani entrepreneurs to capture the market, the Kenyan ambassador said.

Elaborating the investment policy of Kenya, the ambassador said Kenya maintained a totally liberated policy ensuring non- interference in the business. Investment could be made with simplified procedure and investors are allowed to repatriate their income generated in Kenya. Establishment of manufacturing units by foreign investors is welcomed by the Kenyan government, he explained.

Answering a question regarding law and order situation, Mr Soba said that it was congenial for trade. "There were robberies and bank dacoities but that are not very unusual in other third world countries."

He agreed to make proper arrangements for the two-way trade and to streamline the visa facilities. Siraj Teli stressed the need of enhancing trade between Kenya and Pakistan focusing other items for trade, besides tea and textiles.