• Another critical area of cooperation explored by the two leaders was the language exchange programme.
Image: INTERNTE
Kenya is seeking to establish direct flights to Colombian capital, Bogota, in a bid to expand economic ties with the South American country, DP Rigathi Gachagua said on Monday.
Gachagua made the announcement after a lengthy bilateral meeting with Colombian Vice President Francia Elena Marquez Mina in Nairobi. He said the move would open up the two countries to a two-way business and investment cooperation.
The DP said talks were underway to explore the possibility of direct flights.
“Our political consultations have explored the need to establish direct flights between the two countries, which would be an enabler for trade and investment for people-to-people contact,” Gachagua said.
“Our government is committed to further increase a two-way trade and investment cooperation between Kenya and Colombia by focusing on economic and commercial programmes and promotion of business interactions between our two countries, ranging from the MSME’s sector, the private sector and business management organisations.”
And having been assigned the task of coffee sector reforms by President William Ruto, the DP said he will soon lead a large delegation to Bogota to learn from the country’s success in reforming the subsector.
Another critical area of cooperation explored by the two leaders was the language exchange programme.
“Kenya wishes to enhance cooperation with Colombia in a number of fields, such as training in Spanish, education scholarships, healthcare, culture, knowledge sharing, south-south cooperation and engagement in the multilateral arena,” Gachagua said.
The DP also sought the help of the Colombian government in provision of technical support in health and housing sectors, especially the use of bamboo for construction in the ongoing government’s affordable housing projects.
“Your government’s support in the use of bamboo as an affordable housing material, cooperation in technical, vocational and education and training, culture and most importantly technical cooperation in the coffee sector will go a long way in enabling Kenya to attain her development aspirations,” Gachagua said.
Among the pacts signed during the Monday morning meeting were the MoU on the Joint Commission for Cooperation and MoU on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment.
DP said talks are ongoing to conclude MoUs on sports cooperation and six declarations including declaration of intent in promotion of Spanish language, declaration of intent on sustainable trade and investment, declaration of intent on higher education.
Others are declaration of intent on energy and mining, declaration of intent on promotion of tourism and declaration of intent on promotion of culture.