UN, Kenya to Launch Africa-Wide Investment Database

 　　The director of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization has met with Kenyan finance officials to discuss the launch an African-wide database designed to help governments promote investment in their countries.

　　The database contains information on companies’ activities in Africa. It also indicates which parts of the continent’s economies are growing, recent investments, and other trends that will enable investors² to make informed decisions when setting up shop in Africa.

　　Aggregate³ statistics were culled⁴ from a survey conducted over a two-year period in which some 7,000 companies in 20 African countries responded. The information does not identify companies by name, although they can choose to link their company to the site.

　　The United Nations Industrial Development Organization is targeting government investment authorities to obtain and use this database. Companies participating in the survey also have access to the information.

　　“Through the survey, the investment promotion⁵ agencies would, for example, be able to respond to an investor¹ inquiry⁶ within 15-20 minutes with in-depth, customized information looking at company performances within the sector⁷, looking at cost factors in the sector, etc. etc.,” said Mithat Kulur, the head of the Investment and Technology Unit at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

　　Kulur was in Nairobi this week meeting top finance ministry⁸ officials to explain the survey’s results and demonstrate use of the database.

　　The UN organization calls the East African country a “key investment hub,” and therefore wanted to launch the Africa-wide database there.

　　Kulur says that African companies investing in other African countries are among the most effective investors. He says that, because of the continent’s high potential and the being the world’s “next growth area,” investment authorities need to undergo major transformation⁹.

　　“And that involves, one, looking more closely at domestic investors. Two, providing a much more business-oriented service to investors," he said. "A lot of investment promotion agencies are what we call “meet and greet” type of agency. They are there, friendly face at the airport, etc. That’s worked fine until now.”

　　The Kenya Investment Authority is one such group. Acting¹⁰ Managing Director Julius Korir tells VOA attracting business is crucial for the country to realize its goal of becoming a newly-industrialized country by 2030.

　　Korir says his agency has centralized and streamlined procedures to give investors what he calls the “red-carpet” treatment.

　　“We have what we call a “facilitation one-stop shop” where an investor brings in their projects, their applications - let’s say for work permits, for registration¹¹, for waivers and other things - and then our officers now do the walking for them,” said Korir.

　　Korir says his agency is looking for investments particularly in the areas of agriculture and agri-business, information technology-based industries, and business process outsourcing.

1 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

2 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

3 aggregate   

adj.总计的，集合的；n.总数；v.合计；集合

参考例句：

• The football team had a low goal aggregate last season.这支足球队上个赛季的进球总数很少。
• The money collected will aggregate a thousand dollars.进帐总额将达一千美元。

4 culled   

v.挑选，剔除( cull的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The herd must be culled. 必须有选择地杀掉部分牧畜。 来自辞典例句
• The facts were culled from various sources. 这些事实是从各方收集到的。 来自辞典例句

5 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

6 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

7 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

8 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

9 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

10 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

11 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？