Kenya, South Africa ink 6 bilateral agreements to boost ties

Kenya and South Africa on Tuesday signed six agreements as part of the efforts to expand the economic and security ties between the two countries.

The MoUs, which were witnessed by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma, are on police and defense cooperation, trade and investment, visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and ordinary/service passports, as well as MoU on cooperation in the field of biodiversity, conservation and management.

The fifth agreement was on South African investment in the development of the Lamu Port, Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPPSET) corridor project.

Other areas agreed on by the two leaders are cooperation in financial service sectors and in technical and vocational training.

The two countries also agreed to enhance cooperation in trade and security with the presidents of both countries committing to forging stronger ties.

Speaking at a joint news conference in Nairobi, the two leaders agreed to progressively remove all trade barriers to enable the two countries to benefit from their untapped trade potentials.

President Kenyatta said South Africa has agreed to consider Kenya's request that Kenyan nationals be granted visa on arrival.

"This is a privilege that Kenya already extends to South African nationals. In our view, there is no reason why both our countries cannot agree on exemption of visas for each other's citizens," Kenyatta said.

Kenyatta and Zuma, who is on a three-day State Visit to Kenya, said the first measure to expand their trade and economic ties is to enable the free movement of people.

They directed the respective ministers responsible to work out the plan to reduce visa restrictions for Kenyans visiting South Africa.

The Kenyan leader said they had agreed to increase the trade between the two countries by progressively removing all barriers to trade starting with non-tariff barriers that prevent Kenya from exporting agricultural produce to South Africa.

"South Africa understands the anxiety about non-tariff barriers that prevent us from exporting tea, coffee or soda ash. President, I applaud your commitment to urgently resolving this outstanding matter," he said.

President Kenyatta said the commitment of South African investment in LAPPSET, a pivotal project for Kenya and the whole continent was encouraging.

"Investment in Africa by Africans is critical to the growth of intra-Africa trade and investment," Kenyatta said.

The two presidents agreed to establish a strategic framework which would be used to implement signed MoUs to deliver optimal benefits for the citizens of the two nations.

Kenyatta proposed that the ministries of foreign affairs of both countries be mandated to commence negotiations toward a strategic framework of a special nature that would enable the two nations to deepen and expand the existing ties.

He said agreements on police and defense cooperation are aimed at enhancing regional and continental security.

The two leaders agreed to broaden counter-terrorism partnership to focus on new areas such as cyber security, financing of terrorism and stemming radicalization.

President Zuma said the two countries need to work together more closely in order to benefit their citizens and also other African countries.

"We are working for a strategic partnership anchored on trade and security," he said, adding that stronger ties between Kenya and South Africa are beneficial to the two countries' neighbors. Endit