Business can assist in addressing youth unemployment on the continent, says South Africa’s High Commissioner designate to Kenya, Kolela Mqulwana.

Speaking to the 31 local companies that are on an Outward Selling and Investment Mission to Kenya, Mqulwana said that the continent needs business people who will fight against the high levels of youth unemployment. This, she said, could be done through growing business and employing people, particularly the youth.

The business delegation on the investment mission is led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The mission aims to increase trade and investment between South Africa and the two countries.

Mqulwana on Monday described the trade mission as a platform which would provide a networking opportunity. She said the mission also provided an opportunity for the South African businesspeople to source information on potential investment projects and to sell their products and services in Kenya.

“The Information and Communication Technology and (ICT) and agro-processing sectors stand out in the opportunities presented by Kenya,” added Mqulwana.

She also pointed to the delegation that they could offer agricultural technology and mining services amongst the vast investment opportunities that exist in Kenya. She identified tourism, agriculture, transport, infrastructure, manufacturing, communications, energy, building and construction, and pharmaceuticals as sectors providing key business and investment opportunities in Kenya.

The targeted sectors for this mission include agro-processing, infrastructure, built environment professionals, mining and capital equipment, ICT, and electro-technical, chemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals and energy.

The Kenya leg of the investment mission, which kicked-off on Monday, concludes on Tuesday, with the Tanzania leg of the investment mission kicking-off from 18 to 20 February.