SA and Kenya sign eight key bilateral agreements

KENYA and South Africa, signed eight key bilateral agreements this week, ushering in a new dawn of co-operation between the two nations.

President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta to the Union Buildings in Pretoria at the start of a state visit.

The two leaders reaffirmed the strategic importance of bilateral relations between the two countries and reiterated their commitment to elevate the nature of the relationship through the conclusion of a Strategic Partnership Agreement. They directed their foreign ministers to take this forward.

They also discussed peace on the African continent and supported the call for an immediate ceasefire in the troubled Tigray region of Ethiopia, where conflict has claimed the lives of several thousand civilians.

Ramaphosa noted with concern the recent conflicts and suffering in Ethiopia, Sudan and Mozambique.

He said South Africa remained committed to regional peace, security and stability and called on all role-players to work towards finding sustainable solutions.

In his opening remarks, Ramaphosa said Kenyatta’s visit was another manifestation of the strong and cordial bilateral relations between the two countries. He said the historic ties between them were rooted in Kenya’s principled support for South Africa’s struggle for liberation, racial equality and democracy, adding that the country would remain eternally grateful to the people of Kenya.

The eight agreements included MoUs in transport, health, diplomatic consultations and training as well as tourism and migration. Others were a Bilateral Air Services Agreement as well as MoUs on government printing works and the return of nationals who were refused entry and illegal entrants.

Ramaphosa was accompanied by 10 ministers representing the portfolios of International Relations and Co-operation; Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development; Home Affairs; Trade, Industry and Competition; Defence and Military Veterans; Transport; Human Settlements; Public Enterprises; Health and Tourism.

President Kenyatta led a highlevel delegation from Kenya comprising cabinet secretaries in charge of Foreign Affairs; Industrialisation; Trade and Enterprise Development; Tourism and Wildlife; Transport; Infrastructure;

Housing; Urban Development; Public Works and Health. The delegation included senior government officials and business representatives.

To upscale the level and the scope of co-operation between the two countries, the heads of state presided over the signing of agreements and MoUs in the fields of diplomatic consultations; diplomatic training; tourism; migration matters; return of nationals refused entry and illegal entrants; health; transport-related matters; government

printing works; and bilateral air services.

On trade and investment, both leaders agreed that as partners and advocates of Pan-Africanism and intra-Africa trade, South Africa and Kenya ought to set the example by increasing the volume and composition of bilateral trade as well as investing more in each other’s economies.

The two presidents further acknowledged the signing of the Strategic Partnership Framework between SAA and Kenya Airways, which will ultimately facilitate more trade and investment and enhance people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and ultimately, the region and beyond.

Ramaphosa said that over the past five years, bilateral trade has been constant, while investment has mainly been characterised by South African companies investing in Kenya.

The two leaders directed the respective ministers to ensure implementation of agreements and MoUs executed and decisions taken.

Ramaphosa asked that, as part of their contribution to intra-African trade, preference be given to stateowned companies and private businesses when bidding for significant procurement contracts in each other’s countries, instead of sourcing these from outside the continent. He added that each of the countries had the indigenous knowledge and expertise to benefit the other.

“These efforts to strengthen economic ties are not possible without the facilitation of movement of people between our two countries,” he said.

He confirmed South Africa’ support during Kenya’s tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2021–2022 and congratulated Kenya for its successful chairing of the Security Council last month.

“As a recipient of international solidarity in the struggle for liberation, we stand together with the rest of the international community in support of the people of Palestine and Western Sahara in their struggle for self-determination and nationhood,” said Ramaphosa.

“We note the recent Security Council Resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara until October 31, 2022.”

Ramaphosa said South Africa agreed with Kenya that it was important for the Security Council to support the work of the UN Mission and the reconvening of negotiations by the secretary-general’s personal envoy.

Kenyatta congratulated Ramaphosa on South Africa’s significant success in the field of health through its accelerated progress towards universal health coverage with health systems reforms.

He expressed Kenya’s desire to achieve this agenda through building its capacities in the health sector.

Kenyatta said Kenya would be looking to South Africa for support in knowledge exchange and human resource development in the areas of primary, secondary and emergency health-care provision; opportunities for medical training in Kenya’s health priority areas; strengthening disease prevention and epidemic surveillance; technological transfer and capacitybuilding in research, development and production of pharmaceuticals, human vaccines, biologicals and medical devices.

This state visit took place after the successful inauguration of the Kenya–South Africa Joint Commission for Co-operation, which took place on August 11 in Nairobi. |