Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am glad to join you and to preside over the opening of Maisha Mabati Mills Limited. This event marks an important milestone in the development of the Devki Group of companies in particular and our country’s economy at large.

I am informed that the new Company, Maisha Mabati Mills Limited, is an investment of 3.1 billion shillings. I congratulate the board, management and staff of the new firm. I also commend you for coming up with an innovative and colourful array of products.

As we are all aware, iron sheets are an important commodity in the building and construction industry. Their availability at affordable prices has a direct bearing on our ability to meet the housing needs of our people.

This venture by Maisha Mabati Mills Limited is, therefore, a big boost to the Government’s goal of providing decent housing for Kenyans through provision of adequate and affordable building materials. Besides boosting the provision of decent houses, the opening of this facility is expected to provide direct and indirect employment to 3,000 Kenyans in addition to the 3,500 employees at Devki Steel Mills Limited.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As a Government, our responsibility is to achieve our national goals of creating jobs for our people, eliminating poverty and improving livelihoods. We recognize that we can only succeed in achieving these goals through the emergence of a strong private sector that will create wealth and generate the much needed jobs for our youthful population.

For this reason, the Government has continued to implement a wide range of measures intended to facilitate the growth of a vibrant private sector in the country. As part of these measures, the Government has drafted the National Industrialization Policy to provide a road map that will facilitate sustainable industrialization in the country. The policy addresses issues affecting the industrial sector, including:

1. Technology upgrading, domestication and widespread use in all sectors of national production;

2. Improving access to affordable long-term finance and credit facilities, especially for small-scale investors in the manufacturing business;

3. Improvement and diversification of market access for manufactured products;

4. Research and development;

5. Commercialization of innovations and research findings, and

6. Integration of micro, small and medium enterprises into the mainstream manufacturing sector.

In addition to the National Industrialization Policy, we have, in collaboration with various stakeholders, completed a Master Plan for Industrial Development. The Master Plan identifies several flagship projects that are to be implemented.

Besides these efforts, we recognize that a vibrant export market will provide a firm grounding for industrial growth in the country. In this respect, the Government will strive to expand market access for manufactured products in line with VISION TWENTY THIRTY. Under the vision we envisage the growth of our share of the regional export market from 7 to 15 percent.

It is for this reason that we are committed to the implementation of the East African Community Common Market Protocol that is scheduled to be in place on 1st July this year. I note that the iron and steel sector has been able to export products of iron and steel to Eastern and Central African countries worth 7 billion shillings. As we continue to deepen the E.A.C. integration process, I urge Maisha Mabati Mills Limited and other industries in the country to position themselves strategically so as to benefit from the unfolding vast market.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we seek to promote industrialization in the country, I assure Kenyan manufacturers that the Government will continue to address the menace of counterfeit goods while improving competitiveness and productivity. As will be recalled, I accented to the Anti-Counterfeit Act 2008. The Act comprehensively addresses the contra-band and counterfeit goods that have posed unfair competition to locally manufactured goods. The Act makes it illegal and an offence to deal in counterfeit goods. Those found in possession of counterfeit goods or goods bearing counterfeit marks will be dealt with accordingly. In this regard an anti-counterfeit agency has already been gazetted and a Board constituted.

We will also continue to pursue other policies that will further our agenda of promoting existing and upcoming local industries. In this regard, the Government will continue to engage investors in dialogue on matters relating to industrialization and economic development of our country.

As I conclude, ladies and gentlemen, I wish to note that Kenya has a huge reserve of natural resources. In spite of this, poverty and unemployment remain key challenges because these resources are exported in raw form, with little or no local value addition. There is, therefore, urgent need for the creation of targeted incentives to promote value addition. I urge investors to venture into value addition which will fetch attractive returns.

Finally, I once again I commend all those behind the success of this factory and wish you well in the days ahead. With these remarks, I now take the pleasure to officially open Maisha Mabati Mills Limited.

Thank you and God bless you all.