Cairo, 11 March 2023 (TDI): The Foreign Minister of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry hosted Kenyan Foreign Minister, Alfred Mutua in Cairo and achieved a landmark agreement on bilateral ties.
The talk between both Foreign Ministers aimed at deepening trade and investments, bilateral relations, visa-free regions, agriculture and financial sector, scholarships, and road connectivity.
In line with the African vision of AfCFTA (Africa Continental Free Trade Area), both countries have agreed to establish free visa entry for diplomatic and official passport holders from April 1.
Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfred Mutua stated that they are working together to finalize a 100 percent visa-free regime between both countries for ordinary passports within six months by October 1, 2023.
In addition, he added, “The visa-free policy will enhance tourism, grow trade, and support the economic free flow of people and goods as envisioned by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.”
Kenya also reached an agreement to import fertilizers from Egypt, Foreign Minister Mutua also confirmed that Egypt will support Kenya’s Sh15 billion tree initiative through dam and borehole construction.
“We welcomed Egyptian investors to take advantage of our PPP (public-private partnership) system to build roads, light rail, and other infrastructure as we organize an investor’s forum,”
“We will use Egyptian-modeled irrigation techniques to grow food and reclaim arid and semi-arid areas,” he said after the meeting.
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Furthermore, Egypt agreed to offer Kenyan students scholarships in various fields including mechanized agriculture, water, marine engineering, and health.
The Kenyan Foreign Minister also affirmed to play a consistent role in finding a lasting solution that is beneficial to all, in the ongoing unease between Egypt and other nations due to the principles of sharing waters of the Nile.
In the end, both Foreign Ministers agreed to hold the 7th Kenya-Egypt Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) within weeks, to solidify and expand trade deals between both countries for fast and effective benefits.
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