Kenya will work with Ethiopia to address trade barriers, including tariffs and non-tariff barriers, that hinder the expansion of bilateral trade, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi has said.
Mudavadi, who co-chaired the 36th Ethiopia-Kenya Joint Ministerial Commission with his Ethiopian counterpart Ambassador Atske Selassie on Wednesday, also said the two sides concluded a strategic framework that outlines key areas of economic and social development.
“We will collaborate closely after signing seven specific memoranda of understanding in the areas of tourism, wildlife, culture, blue economy, petroleum, correctional services and capacity building in public service,” Mudavadi said after the meeting at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Foreign Minister Ambassador Taye said, the people of Ethiopia and Kenya are intertwined through culture, language, geography and history.
“Ethio-Kenyan diplomatic relations withstood the test of time through the forethought our leaders,” Ambassador Taye said, adding that the fact that the concerted efforts between the respective governments have been instrumental in bolstering ties and jointly tackling bilateral and regional challenges such as terrorism, transnational organised crimes, drought, climate change and other related concerns.
In this regard, the Foreign Minister stated, the JMC platform is crucial to take relations to new heights.
The JMC also signals a state visit by President William Ruto to Addis Ababa.
Ambassador Taye said although the 35th JMC was held awhile back, a lot has been achieved in cooperation in the defence, economic, peace and security as well as regional integration and closely working together in multilateral fora on shared interests.
Calling upon respective parties to duly implement newly inked MoUs in close collaboration, Ambassador Taye reiterated Ethiopia’s continued commitment and incessant efforts to closely work with Kenya for the peace, development and prosperity of the two countries and the Horn of Africa regional, at large.
Mudavadi on his part said the deliberations at the JMC and senior experts’ level are a testament to the special relations Kenya and Ethiopia enjoy and will further consolidate bilateral relations.
“They also present the unprecedented opportunity to properly assess the state of relations and explore potential areas of future cooperation, ” Mudavadi added.
He urged the participants to implement the shared interests reaffirmed and captured in the MoUs and to further strengthen existing relations through the JMC mechanism that serves as the nerve centre of the diplomatic relations between the East African sisterly countries.
During the meeting, the heads of respective senior experts’ entourage, Director-General for African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Fisseha Shawl, and his Kenyan counterpart and Director General, Bilateral and Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Moi Lemoshira presented a summary of the agreed minutes of the three-day deliberations (February 19-21).
After the signing ceremony FM Ambassador Taye and PCS Mudavadi addressed a joint press conference, highlighting the major takeaways of the high-level talks.
The first JMC, the oldest JMC Ethiopia has ever had, between the two countries was held in 1963 and has been defined by the high and consistent political commitment throughout successive governments and strong people-to-people ties forged by blood and boon, Ethiopia Foreign Ministery noted.
Ethiopia Ambassador to Kenya Bacha Debele Buta said he appreciates both sides for candid discussions and agreements reached to cooperate on various areas, “including to jointly fight against anti-peace elements along common border”.
Earlier, on February 19, Kenya agreed to remove Ethiopian citizens from Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) related electronic payment requirement.
“We kindly inform our citizens that they can enter into Kenya without any requirement for visa and its related payment, but requirement to fill eTA form online before arrival, remains mandatory,” Ambassador Buta announced.
