PM returns from World Economic Forum

Written By:PMPS,    Posted: Fri, Jan 25, 2013

Raila holds a meeting with Mr. Rhee special envoy to the Korean President who paid him a courtesy call at his Hotel. The meeting was attended by Hon. Kiraitu Murungi the Minister for energy among others Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called on African countries to give priority to the development of infrastructure as a strategy for economic development. Addressing a session on Accelerating Infrastructure Development at the 2013 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the PM said road and rail networks connecting the African continent will boost trade and other aspects of economic development Mr Odinga said Africa's development is being frustrated by a huge infrastructure gap, saying the Continent is ill covered by roads, rail and electricity. Infrastructure will open up and expand the internal African markets, which will then be the source of demand for maintaining high growth on the Continent. He told the session chaired by former British Prime Minister Mr Gordon Brown that Kenya is leading by example on this front through the LAPPSET project which he described a is a pan- African transport network. "Kenya is leading the pack in beginning to fill this gap. We have completed a 12 lane super highway and other modern road networks. We have commissioned a 280 MW geothermal plant, and are embarking on a 300 MW wind power project. The construction of an ICT town, Silicon Savanna, is well underway. But it is not enough," the PM said. Mr Odinga also called on investment on renewable energy, particularly the abundant untapped solar energy. He said mini off-grid systems based on micro Consolidated Solar Power are ideal for Africa because the Continent is vast and sparsely populated. Mr Odinga arrived in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday and held talks with a number of world leaders and business executives. He called for a new focus on rural and urban infrastructure for smallholder agriculture and informal sectors. The PM noted that in Kenya, 80 per cent of young people are employed in these areas and they hold the key to job creation. Mr Odinga returns to the country Friday evening and is set to visit the North Rift on Saturday for his Coalition's campaigns. Meanwhile, Prime Minister and CORD Presidential candidate Raila Odinga has welcomed the announcement that the 2013 Presidential television debates will take place on 11th and 25th February 2013. "I welcome these television debates. I am really looking forward to engaging directly with my main opponent Uhuru Kenyatta as well as the other four aspirants in live debate. This will be a great opportunity for Kenyans to hear directly from the presidential candidates and determine who among us really has the ability, the experience, the vision and the precise policies that are required to change people's lives in the next five years. The CORD leadership alone has the record of achievement that they can trust, as it has affected every region in the country. "