Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Pursuant to section 3z of House Resolution 5, the house stands adjourned until 2 p. M. On tuesday, may 28, 2024. Vice chair and president of microsoft. We are joined as well by his excellency the prime cabinet secretary and secretary for foreign and Diaspora Affairs and their respective witnesses to finalize a series of signing agreements. We are joined as well bring the c. E. O. Of g42. This letter of intent of 1 billion investment will be led by g42. To build a state of the art Green Data Center in okaria, kenya. Congratulations on this 1 billion letter of intent. [applause] lets give that another round of applause. With this last signature we conclude the m. L. U. And deal signing ceremony. We celebrate the Partnerships Forum today and Bright Future ahead and we thank his excellency for being a witness of the power what this partnership can bring and being a critical partner in making this possible. Thank you very much. [applause] in kenya, beauty is everywhere. Etched in our golden sun sets and generally kissing the horizon. Dancing along our beaches and driving the heart of our vibrant culture. Welcome to magical kenya. It takes a lot to protect this paradise. This ecosystem is a treasure irreplaceable and fragile. The heartbeat of our land is stand by those who believe in this magic. It is time for humanity to step up and deliver its most bake mandate to protect life on earth and integrity of our planets vital systems and make the world more liveable. In the face of the biodiversity crisis kenya leads the way. We harness the power of the sun, wind, water and earth to guide us to a sustainable future. The United NationsClimate Convention we have committed to restore and conserve and reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions. The objective is to grow five billion trees in the next five years and additional 10 billion trees by 2032. Ken is unwavering in its pursuit of conservation and has welcomed the use of electric vehicles. We invest in the very essence of our nation. For over a century we have regarded kenyas rich biodiversity setting aside national parks, reserves, 53 sanctuaries and conservancies. We ensure the survival of our pressures wildlife. It offers an opportunity to raise funds and support conservation efforts ensuring a future for elephants. It is about expanding habitats, expanding connect activity and empourbg communities. Because of Community Contributing we have seen many more human conservation. These moves inspire the diversification of tourism and products supporting women and youth to benefit through the project. Marine life is just as important as life on land. Conservation along with the preservation of the marine life ensures the wellbeing of this life. Through the ban on Single Use Plastics the implementation of plasticfree parks and kenya ladies the way ensuring responsible practice by tour operators. Our conservation areas remain clean. There work on this magnificent land isnt just for kenya. It is for all of humanity. Ecoregards and travel certificate if i kaegs have sparked a green revolution. Kenya boasts over 40 ecorated accommodation facilities. Ecotourism is thriving with every breath, every man and every action kenya continues to save the future through conservation and sustainable tourism. We are living in the future. You have entered the future. A future ripe with potential driven by global partnerships committed to african equality, growth and a better planet for all of always. At this time we welcome it the stage senator chris koons of delaware. [speaking another language] what a wonderful morning this has been of a fantastic visit. The signings are just the next step in an important journey together between the United States and kenya and to the leadership of the chamber, to Suzanne Clark and american chairman and our incredible and talented ambassador and secretary of commerce, you have laid a Wonderful Foundation for a successful day here. I was thrilled to see my friend part of this development. Kenya is a very special place for me because 40 years ago he was a student at the university of nairobi. I just last wind in a reunion of this group of students as we reflected on the impact kenya had on our lives but there is a positive trajectory today that is in large part because of the leadership of president ruto. There is a debate about what is the path forward for development, for hope and for opportunity. And on the continent of this century, the continent of africa, kenya is showing a path that i embrace and celebrate. A path rooted in democracy, transparency and rule of law and Free Enterprise system. Because of president ruto and his energy, entrepreneur ship and vision, he is demonstrating what that looks like. I just mentioned to the president he has made very tough choices and hes in the midst of difficult leadership moments. And we in the United States need to recognize that and work with him. You just saw in that video powerful and important choices around conservation and around the preservation of the incredible wild life and open spaces of kenya partnered with putting Human Development at the center. Many here know that kenya has incredible Renewable Energy resources as Just Announced with the data center powered completely by geothermal energy. The president has put climate as the center of Economic Development issues in kenya. We in the congress have our part to play in making the drama of the Silicon Savannah and manufacturing and development of export come true. We must reauthorize the african growth and opportunity act. When i was last in kenya we visited a number of manufacturing facilities within that is specifically now in kenya employing thousands because the apparel industry there has the opportunity to diversify away from china and other east asia manufacturing hbs and to the opportunities provided in the american mark. I have a bipartisan bill to extend that and we must do it for all that would seek to increase their investment in east africa. We must advance the u. S. Kenya negotiations which are a promising start and move forward with a free trade agreement. That would be the foundation on which we could build the next chapter of u. S. Kenyan personment i look forward to working with president ruto, president obama and Vice President harris in delivering on that vision. Thank you so much for todays work. Introducing the honorable Rebecca Miano cabinet secretary of the ministry of investments trade, industry at the republic of kenya. Thank you. Thank you very much. My role today is to invite the president of the republic of kenya, but before i do that i will say one or two things. This state visit follows a commitment of deepening investment ties between the United States of america and kenya. We will ensure robust participation from the private sector. My ministry is committed to promote a strong business enabling environment and to facilitate trade and Investment Opportunities in kenya, forecast on key priority sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, digital economy, and others. And other strategic trade and investment partnerships. We are negotiating High Standard commitments in areas that will support and promote trade, including the msme and corruption, liberal and environment among others. I have assured, mr. President , that what is now required is the development of execution and to maintain momentum to bring to fruition what has been discussed and agreed during this state visit. I have assured the president that we will focus on implementing each amount every outcome of this visit. We will keep focused and create accountability and consistently report on the progress that we are making. And now, it is my pleasure and my honor to present the fifth president of the republic of kenya, who is an Ardent Supporter of business, trade and investment, mr. President. [applause] please join us in welcoming his excellency dr. William s. Ruto president of the republic of kenya. Pres. Ruto thank you. Thank you very much. Gina raimondo, u. S. Secretary of commerce, the president appear c. E. O. Of the u. S. Chamber of commerce, Business Leaders and executives of u. S. Corporations, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of my delegation i thank you for the excellent work they have put into the preparation of this breakfast meeting. Im delighted to have this opportunity to share with you various opportunities to leverage the strongin during and dynamic strong, enduring kenya and u. S. Relationship and further enhance the partnerships between our business communities. This gathering comes just a month after the summit of 2024 in inside robbie. At nairobi. In that summit many of the entrepreneurs i see had a platform to collect and and interact with their counterparts in africa. This want gives us yet another chance to reflect on the outcomes of the Nairobi Summit and deliver in the way by which we can inject momentum into the bilateral trade and mac mac use them. We had a number of government to government and government to business deals and while additional agreements were unveiled earlier in the week during my visit here in atlanta. Today i have witnessed the signing of yet another five deals at this event leaving no doubt the direction of our common endeavor and shape of the future we are building together. Ladies and gentlemen, i take i will take a few minutes to outline the reasons for kenyas strong economic interest in promising collaboration and trade and investment between kenya and u. S. Businesses. The aim of my address this morning is to affirm your confidence in entering or expanding your operations in or markets and answer the question what can we do for you and what can we do together. Our commitment to eradicating unemployment and inequality through the undergives us the opportunity to forecast on effective strategies to deliver rapid and inclusive growth that is enhances productivity of millions of citizens. To do there we will promote Strategic Investments within the following sectors which are the strategic pillars of our planet. Universal healthcare, food security, agriculture processing, Affordable Housing as seen in the assignment. Micro, small and Medium Enterprises and the big space around digital infrastructure. Investment to enhance the productivity of gagri creating Employment Opportunities in the Agriculture Sector and food sector. As was mentioned by my good friend senator coons. It is a big space for us and we have major capabilitys in that space and we have enhanced our tax incentives to facilitate more companies to set up and expand our access to the market to the u. S. Likewise, investment in the universal Health Coverage strategy includes vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing and production of medical commodities and biomedical supplies. This enhances or capacity to provide High Quality Health Services to citizens, promote selfsufficiency as we were rudely told by covid19, export to meet regional demand and create significant Employment Opportunities. Specifically, we have in kenya a special Economic Zone that will focus on pharmaceutical manufacturing, and i invite companies who want to explore opportunities in that space. Aside from that, giving incentives on buying from local manufactured products, you have the benefit of access to the east African Market of 300 Million People and by extension using the african continental area access to 1. 4 billion people. If you are looking for market, if youre looking for opportunity, there you are. Further, our commitment to enhance or technological system to attract companies and promote the incubation and scale up have silicon african. Our digital super Highway Program which involves laying an extra 100,000 kilometers of fiber optic infrastructure and establishing digital nationwide to create a system to promote the Digital Service and products. Additionally, leveraging on our huge Green Energy Potential that enables kenya to quickly become a Global Leader in the establishment of world class green data infrastructure. You see this morning we signed the deal which we have witnessed between microsoft, ecocloud and g42 to build a one gig watt data sphere using u. S. Technology, capability and kenyas geothermal resources. Demonstrating that the world is paying attention and investors like what at the see in kenya. [applause] pres. Ruto kenyas Largest Company have doubled workforce with 4,000 jobs of american clients to highlight the importance of i. T. C. Sector. Just two weeks ago i was opening one of the largest facilities. That is deploying technology to companies at t, jetblue and other companies here in the u. S. Additionally, kenya leads in emobility. Yesterday we had a conversation about how we are hosting over 30 companies with them choosing kenya to make great things happen around emobility. We are pushing the horizon. The kenyan government, in the next poles framework, we will be eliminating all taxes for companies that will locally manufacture 100,000 two wheeler and four wheelers in kenya to provide market and government of kenya will be buying the first 5,000 units of eenabled portfolio vehicles to facilitate government transportation and inspire companies that want to inspire investment in that. [applause] pres. Ruto our Affordable Housing program to construct 200,000 units annually over the next five years is a Clear Investment opportunity which also will not just create jobs but also creates opportunities for companies that can deploy modern technology in building houses affordably, sustainably and cost effectively. Kenya is committed to attracting a lot of Foreign Direct Investment by creating a stables transparent and predictable Business Environment continuously enhancing framework, regulatory and providing incentives across the board. Our geo strategic position makes us the gateway to east and Central Africa as well as the entire african continent and nairobi is a strategic choice for international companies, International Organizations and n. G. O. s seeking to establish or expand their footprint in africa. Kenya. [applause] thank you very much. You may want to know that kenya hosts the only u. N. Agency and u. N. Headquarters in the global south and it is globally known for our well educated and we are proud of them highly skilled and enterprising population including young men and women whose motivation reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of our nation. We spend the highest budget on education, training and skill. And we do not consider it as spending it. We consider it an investment because we have seen the return from our huge very well trained, motivated, creative, innovative Human Capital. Through intensive and consistent investment in modern ever infrastructure to improve transport, communication and electrical activity it enforces its unique position as a gateway to east, central and southern africa. It is wise to point out that 92 of or National Grid is of our in addition grid is powered by Global Energy and we aim to have 100 Clean Energy Grid by 2032. [applause] pres. Ruto i know whenever i mention this, many people wonder how we have done it. I want to tell you it only happens in kenya. This places kenya in the lead in manufacturing, industrialization and production for the future while being in harmony with nature. Recognizing that private sector plays requisite and the role private sector plays and is consistent and predictable of the environment including tax benefits for longterm investment so people can decide what they want to do and looking at the great horizon kenya has updated our tax policy guidelines. We are committed to continue this regime and we have agreed that we are going to have a steady tax regime for the next three years. Let me also say we are doing this to meet the standards of stability and predictability that is required for any nation. So, minimum three years and in any event until our tax code meets the highest starpbz standards of applicantability. We have reviewed our digital and aligning it for cooperation and development commonly known as oecd. It will be processed within six months in which taxpayers can have their claim of future tax liability. We have had a big problem with companies who tell us that our tax refunds has been delayed. So we decided we need what the lawyers call quid pro quo. We need something to make it accomplished so any tax refunds verified will be paid within six months or up to six months those refunds with any tax that you are supposed to pay to government without any reference. [applause] pres. Ruto that way, everybody has an incentive to do the right thing. To accelerate the growth of high innovative entrepreneur ship and incubation