Uhuru Stars in French President's Event [VIDEO]

President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking at the 6th BPIfrance Inno Generation business forum at Accor Arena in Paris, France on October 1, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking at the 6th BPIfrance Inno Generation business forum at Accor Arena in Paris, France on October 1, 2020.
PSCU

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, October 1, was the main speaker at the 6th BPIfrance Inno Generation business forum at Accor Arena in Paris, France where he spoke on the potential of the youth population.

He was the chief guest at the conference which is the largest annual congregation of French entrepreneurs and innovators.

The Head of State while delivering the key note speech reiterated that Africa's biggest asset is the potential held by its youthful population and not its natural resources.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and France President Emmanuel Macron at the 6th BPIfrance Inno Generation business forum at Accor Arena in Paris, France on October 1, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and France President Emmanuel Macron at the 6th BPIfrance Inno Generation business forum at Accor Arena in Paris, France on October 1, 2020.
PSCU

"I tell people all the time, we look at the African continent sometimes from a perspective of its natural wealth. The gold, the diamonds, the oil, the gas but what we tend not to see is what is the true African potential. 

"And the true African potential is our young men and women, and their capacity to participate with you to build a greater and better world for all of us," President Kenyatta explained.

The Head of state also spoke about investment opportunities available to French entrepreneurs on the African continent. 

While highlighting challenges limiting African investment potential, the president noted that despite being seen as a current challenge, the continent's bulging youthful population was indeed an opportunity. 

He stated that it was a lack of opportunities on the continent that was turning Africa's young people into a problem for Europe and the rest of the world through desperate attempts at finding livelihoods such as illegal migration.

On Kenya's and Africa's relationship with France, President Kenyatta told a packed Accor Arena that his administration enjoys working with President Macron, the Government and French people.

"It has been a great pleasure working with Emmanuel (President Macron) over the last few years. I believe he is a man who understands that the future of France on the African continent does not necessarily reside in its history but in the potential that Africa has for mutual prosperity," the President stated.

President Uhuru, who is accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Raychelle Omamo (Foreign Affairs), James Macharia (Infrastructure), Ukur Yatani (National Treasury) and Betty Maina (Trade) is in France on an official visit. 

On his part, France president Emmanuel Macron congratulated the Kenyatta for his progressive leadership credentials. 

The overview of the 6th BPIfrance Inno Generation business forum at Accor Arena in Paris, France on October 1, 2020.
The overview of the 6th BPIfrance Inno Generation business forum at Accor Arena in Paris, France on October 1, 2020.
PSCU

"You run a wonderful country. I was the first French President to visit it. And you run it marvelously. You have to deal with Covid-19, with a lot of issues but you decided to come to France, for this event," President Macron thanked his Kenyan guest. 

The French President stated that his reason for inviting President Kenyatta to grace France's biggest gathering of entrepreneurs and innovators was to provide a platform for Kenya and French business people to explore available investment opportunities in each other's countries for the mutual benefit of the citizens of the two republics.

"I wanted Mr President to come and see French entrepreneurs, SMEs. and to have an open discussion because I do believe it is extremely important both for France and Kenya to have a better knowledge of each other," President Macron stated.

Watch the video of Uhuru's address below:

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