NAIROBI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations that seeks to boost the development of Konza Technopolis, located about 70 km south of the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.
UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Stephen Jackson said the agreement will provide a raft of interrelationships with various UN agencies based in Nairobi.
"Our MoU will help explore points of synergy and strategic partnerships to support Kenya and Konza Technopolis as part of Kenya's development blueprint Vision 2030 as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals," Jackson said.
John Paul Okwiri, chief executive officer of Konza Technopolis, said the agreement will see Konza Technopolis partner with the UN Human Settlements Program and allow for city-to-city benchmarking and learning exchange, strengthening smart city growth, including research and data sharing, implementation of local climate actions such as greening initiatives.
Okwiri added that the other area of cooperation is with the UN Development Program, whereby more than 20 innovators will receive technical and financial support to achieve commercialization and market entry, as well as a strategic partnership in the implementation of joint programs based on Kenya Innovation Ecosystem Mapping.
He noted that the cooperation with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization involves a tripartite agreement together with the Chinese Association of Natural Science Museums, which will see the development and management of the Konza Natural Science Museum as well as resource mobilization for the development of the museum.
