Somali Magazine – Klaus Werner Iohannis, the President of Romania, has toured Kenya for a three-day state visit before he proceeds to Tanzania, Cape Verde, and Senegal. His nine-day visit to Africa (November 14–23) is a gateway to strengthen political and diplomatic engagement with the African continent and deepen the European Union and Africa relationship.
President Klaus, in the company of Romanian First Lady Carmen Johannis, arrived in Kenya Monday evening and was received by Kenyan ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo and his colleague, East, Arid, and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development CS Penina Malonza.
“These visits aim at relaunching the high-level political dialogue with the mentioned states and revitalising economic and sectoral relations, aiming to open and capitalise on new opportunities for collaboration in areas of common interest, including those regarding the management of global challenges,” the Presidential Administration said last week.
Kenya signs bilateral ties with Romania.
In his visit, Klaus Iohannis proceeded to State House, where he met with President William Ruto and signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in a bid to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest between the two countries.
The four MoUs are on Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Cooperation on Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety, Agricultural Research and Cooperation, as well as the Diplomatic Institute and the Foreign Service Academy of Kenya.
In his comments, President Ruto said that the implementation of the MoUs would enhance trade and investment between the two countries while creating new investment opportunities.
“The implementation of these MoUs will escalate our relations into an effective partnership in the areas of focus and create conditions for Kenya and Romania to expand the scope of collaboration to cover even more sectors in the near future,” he said.
The two heads of state also discussed various issues of interest, including trade and investment, environmental conservation and climate action, political and diplomatic dialogue, cooperation in ICT, agriculture, people-to-people engagement, peace and security, disaster risk management, international humanitarian support, and regional and multilateral cooperation.
In addition, Kenya and Romania agreed to collaborate with other countries to explore innovative ways for climate financing as well as on carbon markets.
“President Iohannis and I also resolved to continuously work together, both at the bilateral as well as multilateral spheres, to promote and support the achievement of the global development agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Ruto added.
The Romanian Head of State President lauded Kenya for being an example of political stability and democratic transition in Eastern Africa and a development hub for the entire region, hence the need for Romania to have trade ties that will be beneficial to all.
“Our consultation has reconfirmed that we have joint interests towards global current concerns and challenges like protecting the environment and concerns on climate change and civil protection,” he said.
After his three-day visit in Kenya, the Romanian President will then be expected to visit Tanzania, where he will meet with President Samia Suluhu Hassan for political engagements and economic ties.
Thereafter, the Romanian Head of State will visit Cape Verde, where he will meet with President José Maria Neves, the president of the National Assembly, Austelino Tavares Correia, Prime Minister José Ulisses Correia e Silva, and the mayor of Praia, Francisco Avelino Carvalho. Also, the Romanian leader will have a meeting with former students from Cabo Verde who studied in Romania.
In Senegal, Klaus Iohannis will have political consultations with President Macky Sall and participate in the inauguration of the United Nations House.