The Norwegian Crown Prince who was to lead a business delegation to Kenya this week has postponed the visit.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon was expected in the country starting today where he would lead a business delegation culminating in a high-level seminar in Mombasa on Monday, February 10 and other events planned in Nairobi on the 11th and 12th February.
A statement from the Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi notes: “In respect and solidarity with the nation following the passing of former President H.E. Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi and the officially declared period of national mourning, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Norway was to postpone his planned official visit to the Republic of Kenya.”
The accompanying ministers, Dag Inge Ulstein, Minister for International Development, and Linda Hofstad Helleland, Minister for Regional Development and Digitalisation, have also postponed their visit, according to the communique.
Limited Business Programme
The statement adds that the seminar in Mombasa and the other events in Nairobi will not take place as well.
“However, Innovation Norway’s East-Africa office and Norwegian-African Business Association (NABA) will support Norwegian companies that still wish to travel to Kenya as planned. A more limited business programme will take place from Monday 10th to Wednesday 12th to facilitate meetings between Kenyan and Norwegian companies to explore innovative and sustainable business solutions,” adds the statement.
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Last week the embassy said, “The purpose of the visit is to further strengthen the long-standing and close relationship between Norway and Kenya. Emphasis was to 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 was to host a joint ocean seminar in Mombasa under the main theme Promoting a Sustainable Ocean Economy. The seminar was to 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,” added 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 was to be accompanied by the largest Norwegian business delegation to ever visit an African country.”
During his visit, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon was to 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 was to 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.
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