NAIROBI, KENYA: Deputy President William Ruto has expressed Kenya’s commitment to the success of the Tokyo International Conference on Development (TICAD) that will be held in Nairobi in August this year.
The DP noted that the (TICAD) VI to be held for the first time outside Japan since its launch 23 years ago will refocus international attention on Africa’s needs and address the trade imbalance between Japan and Africa which is in favour of the later.
Mr. Ruto was speaking at his official residence in Karen when he held talks with Mr. Katsyuki Kawai, a special advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe.
He noted that Japan’s participation in Kenya’s development is enormous saying in the last fifty years, Japan has been instrumental in the development of infrastructure in Kenya most notably roads and the Port of Mombasa.
He however said there is still scope for further engagement with Japan in areas of trade and investment and especially in the movement of people by enabling Kenya airways fly direct to Tokyo.
“We shall conclude discussions on direct flights between Tokyo and Nairobi to facilitate easier movement of people between the two countries and improve on business transactions between the two nations,” he said.
Ruto further said Kenya and Japan had signed an understanding under the universal health strategy where Japan will extend to Kenya Sh 33 million dollars for the health sector through the National Hospital Insurance fund (NHIF).
Other areas of discussion included the development of special economic zones in Mombasa and the second container terminal where the DP said the government is encouraging the participation of the private sector in their development.
“We want to find a balance between public and private participation in the development of the special economic zones with public participation being very minimal,” he said.
Mr. Katsyuki kawai who was accompanied by Japan’s ambassador to Kenya Tatsushi Terada and ambassador for TICAD Toshitsugu Uesawa underscored the relations between Kenya and Japan that date back more than fifty years ago.
He expressed Japan’s commitment to the relations with Kenya saying in deepening focus will be mainly in trade and investment in deepening the relations.
Also present were Cabinet Secretaries for Transport and Infrastructure James Macharia and that of Industrialization and Enterprise Development Adan Mohammed.
Earlier, Mr. Ruto bade farewell to the outgoing Ambassador of Algeria to Kenya Saad Maandi.
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The DP underscored the relations between Kenya and Algeria noting the two countries shared many similarities and understanding of regional and international issues.
He said Kenya had a robust policy that gave preference to African countries in a bid to improve of intra-Africa trade and investment.
Said the DP“ It is because of this policy that we have seen an increase in numbers of people from other African countries coming to Kenya to interact with us and do business.”
And added,“ There is tremendous potential in trade between African Countries that needs to be developed besides that between Africa and other development partners.”
Mr. Ruto also touched on security saying Kenya and Algeria faced similar challenges that required a global approach to tackle.
He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to eradication of global terrorism, saying Kenya’s contribution of troops to AMISOM was a demonstration of that commitment.
Ambassador Saad Maandi concurred saying Algeria was willing to work with like minded nations in eradicating global terrorism
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