Kenya and Mozambique have resolved to broaden their areas of cooperation including the minerals and mining sector, livestock breeding, trade, tourism promotion, agri-business, manufacturing and value addition, and the Blue economy sector.
Speaking when he held bilateral talks with his host President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique, President Uhuru Kenyatta pointed out that there was immense potential for collaboration in the area of the Blue Economy by virtue of the two countries’ long coastlines.
“Besides the exploitation of marine resources, cooperation in this sector, could also entail modernization of our sister ports; Beira and Mombasa, to ensure a sustained competitive edge in terms of efficiency,” President Kenyatta said.
The Kenyan Head of State said his Administration will also be delighted to partner with Mozambique in the implementation of the Big Four economic transformational agenda which focuses on food security, affordable housing, manufacturing and affordable healthcare for all.
“I believe that these key pillars are not unique to Kenya’s but cut across our countries as foundations upon which sustainable development can be attained. This commonality gives us a sound platform for accelerated collaboration,” President Kenyatta said.
After the talks, the leaders witnessed the signing of two broad agreements covering political and economic cooperation – which will be the heart of closer cooperation between the southern African Portuguese-speaking country and the east African economic giant.
President Kenyatta sees the two agreements as the kick-start of relations that would link the Swahili Coast from Maputo to Lamu.
The Kenyan delegation at the bilateral talks included Cabinet Secretaries Amb. Monica Juma (Foreign Affairs and International Trade), Adan Mohamed (Industrialization and Enterprise Development) and Charles Keter (Energy), and Transport and Infrastructure Development Chief Administrative Secretary Chris Obure.
President Kenyatta and his host President Nyusi were later on Thursday due to co-chair a Kenya-Mozambique business forum.