By IANS,
New Delhi : Kenya Monday invited India to participate in one of the largest infrastructure development projects in Africa– the Lamu Port and Lamu Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET).
“We invite Indian participation in this project. We want Indian participation in each and every aspect of this project. With excellent infrastructure development capacities shown by Indian companies they can compete in the project,” Trade Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere said.
Addressing the eighth India-Africa Project Partnership Summit here, he elaborated upon the scale and size of the project.
“There will be a railway line, a resort, a port, an oil pipeline and highway construction. India has a proven capability in developing of these infrastructure.”
According to Mwakwere, several countries have already entered the project and India would loose out if it did not move in soon.
“India should not be far behind, it has a presence in Africa for the last 900 years and it should maintain its leadership position. But other athletes (countries) are already there.”
Mwakwere also empathised the need for India to set up manufacturing facility in Kenya and said attractive sops will be provided to the Indian firms.
“We want value addition. The African market is opening up and there is demand but we also want employment, technology, transportation and training. We look towards India for this.”