Zain International, one of Africa’s leading mobile phone service providers, has moved its Africa regional headquarters to Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
Zain, formerly Celtel, is moving its African headquarters from Amsterdam, Holland.
The communications firm’s plans were unveiled Thursday when the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Rene Meza, paid a courtesy call on Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki at State House.
The CEO said the company was happy about the Kenyan market and the prospect of the East African Community, a regional trading bloc that was now transformed into a political federation.
The bloc brings together five countries from the East African region – Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
Meza hailed Kibaki for his stewardship that had seen an economic turn-around and was confident that the grand coalition government would lead to greater political stability and faster economic growth.
He was accompanied by senior company officials, including Saad Hamad Al Barrack, Michael Okwiri and Naushad Merali.
Kibaki said Kenya was open for business and welcomed more investors to the country.
He reiterated the government’s support for the communication sector through the removal of taxes on telecommunication equipment for rural infrastructure.
“The government spending on Information, Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, especially the fibre optics, will make the cost of telephones lower,” Kibaki said.
He noted that the new entrants to the market would enhance competition, thereby improve the quality of service, while at the same time lowering the cost to consumers.
“ICT is a key pillar in attracting the necessary economic development like in Asian countries and job creation for Kenyan youths,” the President said.