Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has said plans are at an advanced stage to open a Kenyan embassy in Doha, Qatar.
A statement from the Presidential Press Service said on Monday that Kibaki noted that the number of Kenyans living and working in Qatar has increased substantially and underscored the urgent need for an embassy in order to facilitate access to consular services.
Addressing Kenyans residing in Doha at the end of his three day official visit to the country, President Kibaki said that his government appreciates the significant contribution Kenyans working in Qatar are making towards Kenya's development through remittances which amount to over 720 million Kenyan Shillings per year.
He said his government has put into place sound policies to create an enabling environment for Kenyans in Diaspora to participate fully and contribute to the development of their motherland.
"Kenyans in the Diaspora have an important role to play in building our country. Through your vast experiences gained in the course of your travel and work in the countries you are residing in, and through your expertise and resources, you are well placed to make a significant impact in the development of our country," President Kibaki said.
He pointed out that his government is dedicated to providing an enabling environment for both local and international investors.
Kibaki urged Kenyans residing in Qatar and the wider Middle East region to take advantage of the existing favorable business environment to invest in various social and economic sectors such as horticulture and farm produce among others.
The President called on Kenyans living abroad to be responsible people and to uphold the dignity of the country wherever they are.
The Kenyan leader said his government is pursuing aggressive measures to woo foreigners to visit Kenya, saying tourism is one of the key sectors that will contribute to the realization of Kenya's Vision 2030.
Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula urged Kenyansin Diaspora to be ambassadors of goodwill, saying they have a moral duty to play in safeguarding the image and interests of the country abroad.
Source:Xinhua
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