Nairobi: Egypt will soon begin importing meat products from Kenya and increase its imports of tea following successful discussions between the two countries. In bilateral talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif in Cairo Wednesday, the PM told the Kenya delegation led by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka that inspectors will visit the country in January to asses its slaughterhouses with a view of certifying them in readiness for importation of meat products.
The Prime Minister, who will also visit Kenya early next year, promised to mobilise more Egyptian firms to invest in Kenya as well as increasing the volume of trade between the two countries. He said his country will cooperate with Kenya in boosting trade and investment in transport, agriculture, water engineering, and energy supply.
Mr Musyoka said Kenya wanted to cultivate co-operation with Egypt in tourism promotion, infrastructure development as well as in education and export trade. 'We are eager to export meat products, cut flowers, as well as increasing tea sales to Egypt. We are confident this is already beginning to happen,' he declared in a joint press conference with the Egyptian PM.
The VP said the economic prosperity for Africa will improve when the continent promotes intra-Africa trade and cross border investments. He added that it was time regional economic blocs like EAC, COMESA and SADC as well as ECOWAS were intergraded.
'With a one billion people market and vast natural resources Africa is the continent to watch in terms of world economic growth' said Mr Musyoka.
At the conclusion of the bilateral discussions, a memorandum of understanding for agricultural cooperation between Kenya and Egypt was signed. It will entail sharing of technical expertise in agricultural research.
The VP also addressed a forum of the Egyptian Chamber of commerce and industry where he challenged its members to invest in Kenya. He also held talks with senior executives of major Egyptian firms Citadel and Arab Contractors.
The Vice President, who is on official visit to Egypt, is accompanied by Trade minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Water assistant minister Ferdinand Waititu, Foreign Affairs assistant minister Richard Onyonga and MPs Peter Mwathi (Limuru), Mithika Linturi (Igembe) and Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu).
