Kenya, Mozambique agree to broaden cooperation

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Kenya, Mozambique agree to broaden cooperation

9:50 CAT | 29 Mar 2018

TVM

President Uhuru Kenyatta and host President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique on Thursday in Maputo witnessed the signing of two broad agreements covering political and economic cooperation.

This will be at 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 kick-starting relations that would link the Swahili Coast from Maputo to Lamu.

Kenya and Mozambique resolved to broaden their cooperation areas, including the minerals and mining sector, livestock breeding, trade, tourism promotion, agri-business, manufacturing and value addition, and the Blue economy sector.

Kenyatta specifically 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 modernisation of our sister ports, Beira and Mombasa, to ensure a sustained competitive edge in terms of efficiency.

“This will spur trade and distribution of products not only between our countries, but our respective sub-region as well.”

Appreciating Mozambique’s milestone achievements in the development of the mineral and mining industry, Kenyatta said he was keen to collaborate with Mozambique with a view to revamping the mining sector which has huge potential to transform Kenya’s economy.

“It is indeed commendable that Mozambique’s mining sector contributes 14 per cent to the country’s GDP, compared to Kenya’s 0.8 per cent,” he said.

The Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) agreement between the two countries signed in 1991 received a shot in the arm at the bilateral meeting in Maputo, when President Kenyatta and President Nyusi directed their respective Foreign Affairs ministries to work expeditiously to convene the next session of the JCC and input robust monitoring and implementation mechanisms.

Cooperation between the two countries has so far registered progress in the air transport sector where the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) was established in 2012 leading to direct flights between Kenya and Mozambique.

Kenyatta said the direct flights by Mozambique Airlines and Kenya Airways have played a significant role in enhancing bilateral trade.

To realise the goal of increased investment exchanges, the two leaders underscored the need to create a level playing field, and an environment that would make business and investment between the two countries to flourish.

They encouraged the establishment of appropriate frameworks such as bilateral trade agreement and avoidance of double taxation agreement, to guide the conduct of business and investment in Kenya and Mozambique.

Source: APA