Just weeks after signing trade deals with the UK investors and with the expected deals between Kenya and the US, more great things are happening in the country’s economic circles.
In a move that could see the tough times prevailing now subside as we go by, the trade deals once they become operational will create employment bringing relief to millions of Kenyans stuck struggling to make ends meet.
This week, President Uhuru Kenyatta is in the US where the modalities of trade and economic relations between the two countries are being worked out.
The move by Kenya is expected to see trade between the two countries grow to a level that benefits both countries sustainably.
Trade and Economic Relations Between Kenya and the US
In August 2018, at a meeting between President Trump and Kenyatta in Washington DC, a technical working group was established to promote trade and economic relations between Kenya and the US.
And before the announcement on the progress from the technical working group meeting in the US regarding the commencement of the negotiations towards a new Kenya-US free trade agreement, Kenya has found another suitor.
Next week, his Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway will make an official visit to Kenya from Monday, February 10th to Wednesday, February 12th 2020.
The country’s Minister of International Development, Dag Inge Ulstein, and Norwegian Minister for Regional Development and Digitalisation, Linda Hofstad Helleland, will accompany the Crown Prince on the visit.
See: Kenyans Running the Show in Foreign Media
In a statement from the Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi, the visit is skewed towards a business relationship between the two countries.
“The purpose of the visit is to further strengthen the long-standing and close relationship between Norway and Kenya. Emphasis will be put on Norwegian and Kenyan collaboration in trade and business development, environmental matters, marine management and broader multilateral interests,” explains Norwegian Ambassador to Kenya, Elin B. Rognlie.
Diversity of the Kenyan Economy
Kenya and Norway are already key partners in the global work on a sustainable blue economy.
“To further strengthen our cooperation in this area, the governments of Kenya and Norway will host a joint ocean seminar in Mombasa under the main theme Promoting a Sustainable Ocean Economy. The seminar will offer both the public and private sector opportunities for knowledge sharing, development of stronger bilateral relations and establishing new partnerships in an area that is prioritised by both countries,” adds the statement.
Kenya, as the largest economy in East- Africa, is a leading country in sectors such as agriculture, tourism and technology.
“The diversity of the Kenyan economy offers substantial opportunities for partnerships between Norway and Kenya in areas such as renewable energy, financial services and high tech solutions for agriculture. To explore the opportunities of partnership and trade between the two countries, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will be accompanied by the largest Norwegian business delegation to ever visit an African country.”
During his visit, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon will meet with President Kenyatta, who is also a member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy together with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
The Crown Prince will visit the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to participate in a Planet Unplugged Session to highlight current opportunities to enhance multilateral actions for nature in preparation of the Fifth United Nations Environment Assembly in 2021.
