Kenya and Djibouti Seeks to Boost Trade and Deepen Bilateral Links

Four agreements have been signed between Kenya and Djibouti following a meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh.

The signed agreements are aimed at boosting trade and deepening bilateral links between Kenya and Djibouti.

The agreements signed included Trade Agreement, MoU on Bilateral Cooperation in the Livestock Sector, Agreement on Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments and an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports.

The agreements were signed shortly after President Kenyatta and President Guelleh held bilateral talks focusing on trade and security.

President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who is on a three State visit to Kenya was hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi where they held talks.

President Kenyatta said the partnership that has existed between Kenya and Djibouti has been strong and efforts were being made to make the cooperation more fruitful.

Kenyatta noted that the two countries are facing almost the same kind of challenges since they are in a region that has for decades been ravaged by conflicts and modern forms of organised crime like terrorism.

“We have talked about how to strengthen our cooperation and to secure our nations. Both our nations are in a very troubled region and we talked about how to secure the safety and prosperity of our people,” said President Kenyatta.

President Guelleh said Djibouti desires to strengthen its partnership with Kenya in developing the region and making it peaceful.

He said Djibouti and Kenya are working together to make Somalia peaceful to ensure that the security risk that its continued instability poses to the region is eliminated.

“We are in a troubled region where we are confronted by extremism and violence. That is why our militaries are in Somalia to help it regain stability because what happens in Somalia has an immediate impact on all of us,” said President Guelleh. He said Djibouti, like Kenya, is sincere in its desire to make Somalia peaceful.

The trade agreement will open the door for more business between Kenya and Djibouti as it will act as a facilitation mechanism.

In their desire to promote greater economic cooperation, the two leaders also oversaw the signing of an agreement which binds both nations to protect private or public investment in each country originating from the other.