DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, Dec, 10 – President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Tanzanian host president Samia Suluhu on Friday at State House, Dar es Salaam addressed a joint press briefing shortly after leading their respective delegations in talks and witnessing the signing of 8 bilateral agreements.
President Kenyatta pointed out that the progressive removal non-tarrif trade barriers had smoothened the flow of commerce between the two East African economies.
On her part, President Samia Suluhu Hassan echoed her Kenyan counterpart’s view on the improving cross-border trade and commended the team of Kenyan and Tanzanian trade experts for resolving 46 out of the 64 identified barriers.
“I commend the JCC for speedily resolving 46 out of the m 64 non-tarrif barriers that existed and I am sure the remaining ones will soon be resolved so that people can continue with their businesses,” said Suluhu.
The bilateral pacts include agreements on mutual legal assistance, extradition and transfer of sentenced persons as well as memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on immigration, correctional services and animal health.
Others are MOUs on cooperation between Kenya Investment Authority and Tanzania Investment Centre as well as housing and urban development.
In a joint address shortly after witnessing the signing of the pacts, President Kenyatta and his Tanzanian host Samia Suluhu Hassan said they were fully committed to the full implementation of the agreements.
“We have had an opportunity to hold bilateral talks on issues concerning our two nations and agreed to work closely to foster our relations so as to attain our shared vision for prosperity of our people,” President Kenyatta said.
He said the newly signed agreements will help spur economic prosperity as well as assist in cementing bilateral ties between Kenya and Tanzania.
“In our talks we discussed how our countries depend on each other. Our ecosystems are intertwined and hence it doesn’t benefit us to be closing our borders but rather we need to continue engaging on how to resolve issues that hinder our citizens from conducting their businesses and interacting with each other.
“As leaders, I am pretty sure if we continue playing our role then the benefits accrued from economic activities will support development of both countries,” the Kenyan leader said.
President Kenyatta commended a joint team of Kenyan and Tanzanian trade experts whose work in recent months, he said, had helped resolve most of the non-tarrif barriers that hindered cross-border trade between the two countries in the past.
The Kenyan Head of State revisited the history of bilateral relations between Kenya and Tanzania stating that the founding fathers of the two pepublics, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, were pan-Africanists who advanced ideals of cross-border unity and cooperation.
President Kenyatta also spoke about cross-border connectivity between Kenya and Tanzania noting that the ongoing construction of the Malindi to Bagamoyo highway will help unlock the immense commercial potential of the corridor.
“We have road infrastructure connecting us at the border points of Isebania, Namanga and Taveta/Holili and though each of our countries have began the construction of the coastal highway, we will schedule a date to formally launch the construction of Malindi to Bagamoyo highway,” he said.
Speaking on cross-border connectivity, President Suluhu said the infrastructure being developed is aimed at accelerating economic growth in the two nations.
“We have all began constructing the Malindi to Bagamoyo road but we intend to officially launch the construction works at an agreed date. We are also in the process of building a gas pipeline from Dar es Salaam to Mombasa with a view of helping our Kenyan brothers access gas at a cheaper costs,” President Suluhu said.
The Tanzanian Head of State observed that Kenya and Tanzania were endowed with vast natural resources and attractive tourist sites that should jointly be exploited for the benefit of the people of the two nations.
“Our countries are endowed with great tourist attraction sites besides other natural resources. Today we are giving Kenya a certificate for 20 roan antelopes and we have also requested the them to give us two black female rhinos to enhance our tourism sector,” President Suluhu said.
The Kenyan delegation at the bilateral talks included Cabinet Secretaries Raychelle Omamo (Foreign Affairs), Adan Mohammed (East African Community), Betty Maina (Trade), James Macharia (Transport) and Mutahi Kagwe (Health).
Kenyatta was on Friday morning officially received by his Tanzanian counterpart Samia Suluhu Hassan at State House, Dar es Salaam on the second day of his two-day State Visit of the Republic of Tanzania.
As part of the elaborate State Reception, President Uhuru inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by a detachment of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force and was accorded a 21-gun salute, the long-standing military honour reserved for visiting Heads of State & Govt in the Commonwealth
On Thursday, President Kenyatta was among several visiting Heads of State and Government, and other foreign dignitaries at a colourful celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of Mainland Tanzania’s independence at Uhuru Gardens in downtown Dar es Salaam.
Want to send us a story? Contact Shahidi News Tel: +254115512797 (Mobile & WhatsApp)
