Ruto jokes with the fact that the president has been the president “quickest to visit him”
MADRID, 26 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, have agreed to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries, especially in the economic field, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the African country and the interest of Spanish companies for continuing to increase its presence in it.
In a joint appearance without questions at the end of the meeting they held in Nairobi, Sánchez ironically commented on the fact that Spain is mainly known in Africa for its football teams, “and that’s fine with us”, but he made it clear that “It’s also a potential ally in many areas.”
In this regard, he stressed that he has traveled accompanied by an “important delegation” of businessmen who are already present in the country and who are interested in increasing their presence. This is precisely what they have told him at the working breakfast that he has held with them first thing in the morning. “Many world leading Spanish companies see Kenya as a country of opportunities and one in which to prosper”, he highlighted.
To accompany this desire, the Government is committed to accompanying companies and for this it will be crucial, the president acknowledged, the renewal of the current financial protocol, which “will add new funds to the existing remnants and allow us to modernize our financing”.
The Prime Minister highlighted the fact that Kenya “is one of the most stable and solid democracies in the region” as well as its “enormous economic potential” and the leadership it exercises in East Africa and throughout the continent.
“It is an economic, political and logistical center in East Africa and also the largest regional economy”, he summed up, hence “Spain’s desire to deepen the framework of bilateral relations” since “there is great potential” and the joint declaration which has been signed for this purpose.
The Kenyan president spoke along the same lines, celebrating the interest of Spanish companies in sectors such as tourism or infrastructure and defending that there is “a tremendous space to increase our trade and investment opportunities”.
Ruto has also valued the “enormous resources” available to Kenya and has made it clear that his country can serve as a “gateway” for Spain both in East Africa and in the continent as a whole, celebrating the “policy of work with Africa” ??by Sánchez.
In this sense, the Kenyan president has expressed the desire of the East African Community (EAC) to move towards a common market and a federation and has considered that they can “learn from the experiences of Spain and the EU”. “You have walked this path before us,” he commented.
The Kenyan president has joked that Sánchez has “broken two records” with his visit, being the first Spanish president to travel to this country since diplomatic relations were established and also for being the “fastest” president in visit him since he took office, as he had not received any international leader so far.
Likewise, Ruto has responded affirmatively to the invitation to visit Spain that the President of the Government has sent him, trusting that he will be able to do so next year and anticipating that his Foreign Minister and Kenyan businessmen will also travel.
The Kenyan president has also agreed to join the Alliance against Desertification that is being formed by Spain and Senegal, the country that currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union, a gesture that Sánchez thanked, stressing that climate change is one of the shared challenges . “I think we can do a lot together,” he said.
