NAIROBI, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta will on Thursday make a state visit to Mozambique to promote trade, enhance bilateral relations and especially on the blue economy, his office said on Wednesday.
Monica Juma, the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, said ahead of Kenyatta's visit that discussions in Mozambique will revolve around value addition in a number of areas, top among them being the blue economy -- all aimed at benefitting the people of the two countries.
"Mozambique is a sea-facing country as we are. There has been a growing interest in the Indian Ocean Rim, which both Kenya and Mozambique are members. And so some of the discussions that are going to take place will be on how we can connect trade, how we can add value on our ocean, particularly on the blue economy," Juma said in a statement issued from Kenyatta's office.
The East Africa nation will in November host a High-Level Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy which has been highlighted as a key sector in manufacturing, which is one of the pillars of Kenyatta's Big Four Agenda.
Juma said bilateral talks will feature cooperation between the two countries in boosting transport links to promote trade as well as people to people interactions.
According to government statistics, trade between Kenya and Mozambique has continued to register steady growth over the years, with Kenya's total export to Mozambique increasing from 6.61 million U.S. dollars in 2007 to 11.8 million dollars in 2017.
"But despite the two countries having signed a Joint Permanent Commission for Co-operation agreement in 1991, trade volumes have remained below potential. It is expected that President Kenyatta's visit to Mozambique will stimulate new impetus for increased trade between the two countries," said Juma.
The Kenyan leader is also scheduled to give a public lecture at one of the special institutes of international relations in Mozambique's capital, Maputo.
Juma said Kenyatta will also visit a number of key installations including the Maputo Port with a view to expanding areas of cooperation between the two countries.
She expressed optimism that Kenyatta's State visit to Mozambique will bring significant returns to Kenya in terms of both Government to Government relations and boosting people to people interactions.
Mozambique is part of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, an international organization comprising 21 coastal nations bordering the Indian Ocean.
Its objectives include promoting sustainable growth, balanced development and removal of impediments to the free flow of goods, services, investment and technology among member states.
Kenya's major exports to Mozambique include prefabricated buildings, plastic items, animal and vegetable fats, tableware, kitchenware, fruit and vegetable juices among others.
