Kenyan official lauds China's rapid industrial growth

China's rapid industrial transformation witnessed in the last two decades is an inspiration to Sub-Saharan African countries that are keen to accelerate the shift from agrarian to manufacturing and export led growth, a senior Kenyan official said on Tuesday.

Wilson Songa, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development said Kenya will apply lessons from China to revitalize the nascent manufacturing sector.

"China has provided crucial lessons that are certainly going to inform the development of Kenya's special economic zones and industrial parks," Songa said.

He was part of a high ranking Kenyan delegation that visited China in mid September to gain knowledge on China's path to industrial transformation.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce sponsored the weeklong study tour for senior Kenyan officials to improve their knowledge on China's socio-economic renaissance.

Kenyan officials will apply knowledge gained from China to accelerate the implementation of the East African nation's industrialization blue print launched recently.

Songa noted the weeklong study tour to China injected fresh impetus in Sino-Kenya industrial cooperation.

"My ministry is already discussing with the National Reform Development Commission of China for cooperation in the development and implementation of special economic zones," Songa told Xinhua in Nairobi.

The Kenyan officials visited Beijing for intensive training and later proceeded to Guangzhou to learn about China's rapid rise to become an industrial hub.

Songa hailed China's new focus on advanced manufacturing and energy development.

He added that Sub-Saharan African countries will benefit from modernization of Chinese economy through adoption of new technologies and innovations.

"The government of People's Republic of China is indeed keen on the growth of the 'Belt and road initiative' concept," Songa said, adding that Kenya is well positioned to reap from the establishment of the new maritime trade route

The visit to China offered Kenyan officials practical lessons on how to fuel industrial progress.

Songa noted that China is a trailblazer in the development of special economic zones that fuelled its rise to become a manufacturing and export powerhouse.

"The special economic zones provide high class infrastructure for development of industries. No wonder China has the largest manufacturing base in the world," Songa said.

Kenyan officials visited Beijing Economic and Technology Development Zone that enlightened them on how cluster and innovation based industrial growth can be realized.

Songa hailed the development of industrial parks that contribute significantly to China's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Enditem