Announcing that India would fully finance a cancer hospital in Kenya, Mr. Modi said it would not only benefit the Kenyan society with quality and affordable healthcare but also help India become a regional medical hub.
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India and Kenya on Monday made a decision to deepen and expand cooperation in a wide range of areas as they signed seven pacts, including in the field of defence and security and avoidance of double taxation.
“Closer cooperation in the field of maritime security occupies an important place in our defence and security engagement”, he said.
Modi said that he and Kenyatta recognised that terrorism and the rapid spread of radical ideologies posed a common challenge to the people of both countries, to the region and to the whole world. “You are only developing country which host Headquarters of United Nations agencies”, he said.
India is Kenya’s largest trading partner and second largest investor but more can be done, Modi said after the talks.
Amid the expanding footprint of ISIS across the world, prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday warned that “preachers of hate and violence” are threatening the fabric of the society and asked the youth to build a counter narrative to extremist ideologies.
“We must be equally condemning of those who give shelter to terrorists, and use them as political instruments”, he added.
At Nairobi University, apart from addressing the students, Prime Minister will also be offering floral tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, located in the University. “But, we also can not ignore the safety of our people”.
The Indian Prime Minister arrived in the country on Sunday and headed to Safaricom Kasarani Sports Complex to address the Indian community in Kenya.
Kenya’s State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu had said yesterday that Kenya will urge that its goods be granted preferential status by the Indian authorities to reduce the trade imbalance.
Modi said that among the rising African economies, Kenya has been one of the strongest performers.
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An 80-member delegation of business leaders under the aegis of industry chamber Ficci that is accompanying Modi on his official visit to four African nations organised the India-Tanzania Business Forum and India-Kenya Business Forum on July 10 and 11 at Dar-e-Salaam and Nairobi respectively. He will leave for New Delhi later on Monday.
