NAIROBI, Kenya, March 14 (NNN-KBC) – Kenya and France signed four partnership deals, aimed at boosting bilateral ties in areas including skills and talents, universities, research and professional training, education and strategic infrastructure projects in Kenya.
France is committed to working together with Kenya in several areas of mutual interest, among which are trade, investment, infrastructure, security and counter-terrorism activities, said French President, Emmanuel Macron, after the signing of the agreements in Nairobi.
“We also want to open a new partnership on the economy; we will sign a series of new agreements, in order to develop public and private partnerships,” Macron told a joint news conference with Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta.
Macron is accompanied on his two-day state visit by a large group of businessmen and investors, who will meet with government agencies and private sector players in Kenya, to explore opportunities for investment.
Macron’s visit is the first by a French president to Kenya, since the eastern African country became independent from Britain in 1963.
Kenyatta said, France continues to be one of the most important contributors to Kenya’s tourism sector, and expressed optimism that the visit by Macron will help increase the number of French tourists visiting Kenya.
“This is good for Kenya and for our development,” Kenyatta said. Today, France has become Kenya’s major trading partner. “My expectation is that France will grow into an even more important trading partner for Kenya, as a result of this visit.”– NNN-KBC
