“We strongly believe that the partnership that we intend to deepen between Kenya and India will go a long way toward boosting and increasing the prosperity of the people of our two nations, especially agricultural communities and small and medium enterprises that are the bedrock of Kenya’s industry and are also the bedrock of India’s society”, Kenyatta said.
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Modi said the economies of both countries would benefit by “further expansion of investment ties, a more diversified trade basket and nurturing greater intensity of commercial links”.
On his talks with President Kenyatta, the Prime Minister said, “Terrorism poses a common challenge”.
There are around 80,000 people of India origin in Kenya, most of whose ancestors were brought as labour for the railways the then British rulers were building or came as traders. It could also help Kenya become a regional medical hub.
Earlier on Monday, Modi laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Kenya’s first President Jomo Kenyatta. An agreement was also signed for extension of a line of credit of $29.95 million by India to the Kenyan government for upgrade of Rift Valley Textiles Factory (RIVATEX East Africa Limited), Kenya.
Modi visited Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania before arriving Kenya.
“Kenya’s geothermal sector & energy efficiency projects- LED based smart street lighting are areas where we could build our engagement”. In this regard, I am happy that the prestigious Kenyatta National Hospital will soon have the state of the art made in India cancer therapy machine – Bhabhatron. Modi is in Kenya as part of his five-nation tour of the African continent.
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He told Modi that Kenya is his “second home” as he emphasised that people-to-people contacts are the bedrock of the bilateral ties.
