Kenya and Guinea-Bissau sign pacts to boost ties

Kenya and Guinea-Bissau on Friday signed three agreements to deepen economic and social ties between the two countries. [PSCU]

Kenya and Guinea-Bissau have signed three agreements to deepen economic and social ties between the two countries.

The bilateral pacts, which included an agreement to establish a Joint Commission for Cooperation, were signed after Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau led their delegations in bilateral talks at State House, Nairobi, on Friday

The agreement aims at establishing a framework for bilateral consultations and cooperation between the two countries in various fields including political, economic, commercial, scientific education, cultural and technical matters. 

The other two deals signed were a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of Political and Diplomatic Consultations between the two countries and another one between the Foreign Service Academy of Kenya and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guinea Bissau.

Speaking at the meeting, Uhuru urged the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Kenya and Guinea-Bissau to expedite the implementation of the agreed areas of cooperation. 

“This will create the requisite momentum in our bilateral engagements, allowing us to accelerate growth and achieve win-win cooperation,” President Kenyatta said.

On his part, President Sissoco Embaló said his country was committed to strengthening its long outstanding mutually beneficial ties with Kenya.

The Guinea-Bissau President cited agriculture and tourism as some of the areas that the two countries could cooperate in to bolster their economic ties. 

Present at the talks were Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua, Cabinet Secretaries Raychelle Omamo, Monica Juma, Amina Mohamed, James Macharia and Attorney General Paul Kihara among other senior Government officials.