It is the first time that a President of the Government visits the two African countries
MADRID, 24 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, begins this Tuesday a historic visit to Kenya and South Africa with which he intends to seek new business and investment opportunities for Spanish companies as well as continue to deepen the relationship with Africa and its leaders, with an eye on in the Spanish Presidency of the EU in the second half of 2023.
Until now, a President of the Government had never visited either of these two countries, despite the weight that both have both at the regional level in the east and south of the continent, respectively, as in the case of South Africa, even at the regional level, since it forms part of the BRICS –Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa– and also of the G20.
From Moncloa, they frame this tour of the president in his interest in continuing to consolidate the relationship with Africa and in forging a strategic alliance with this continent, more so in the current context of war in Ukraine and an incipient presence of both Russia and China, a matter in which the Government wants to continue delving when it assumes the rotating Presidency of the EU in 2023.
The continent will see its population double between now and 2050, when it will reach 2,400 million inhabitants, of which half will be under 25 years of age, hence the importance of working with these countries in generating opportunities and in their development, something that in addition to being in the interest of Africans, it is also in the interest of Spain, state government sources.
The president will travel accompanied for the occasion by a large group of businessmen, together with whom he will analyze with the authorities of both countries the opportunities that are opening up in different sectors, in particular those related to energy, water or infrastructure.
In the case of Kenya, there is ample room for improvement, since the presence of Spanish companies is reduced and the level of both exports and investments is small, while in South Africa the business presence is greater, although it has experienced a slight setback in the last times.
The country is the great market in Africa, hence the Spanish business interest, although in both cases the Government considers that Kenya and South Africa can serve as a gateway to East Africa in the first case and Southern Africa in the second, taking into account the integration processes at the regional level that the two countries lead.
In Moncloa they are aware of the importance of accompanying Spanish companies in their efforts to penetrate African countries, hence the fact that in the case of Kenya non-reimbursable financing is planned to carry out studies and technical assistance, while in the case of Kenya In the case of South Africa, Sánchez is expected to make an announcement of a major financing package.
The government sources consulted assure that Spanish companies enjoy a good image in Africa due, to a great extent, to the absence of a colonial past on the continent, unlike other countries such as France or the United Kingdom.
The business delegation that accompanies the president is made up of representatives of the CEOE and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. In the case of Kenya, the presence is planned, among others, of CAF, Globaltec, Almar Water and Fomento al Desarrollo, while in the case of South Africa there will be the presence of Xcalibur, AGQ, Airbus Spain and Cofides, among others.
The other central issue of both visits will be security, according to the sources consulted, given the importance that the Government gives to the fight against terrorism as well as against organized crime and all kinds of mafias. Both Kenya and South Africa have a leading role in this area.
In the case of Kenya, for its involvement in the fight against the terrorist organization Al Shabaab, a subsidiary of Al Qaeda in Somalia, and which has also extended its tentacles into Kenyan territory, where it has perpetrated several attacks. As regards South Africa, he is very involved in the fight against jihadism in the Cabo Delgado region, in the north of Mozambique, where he has troops deployed as part of a SADC mission.
The agenda of the tour will start early on Wednesday in Nairobi, where the president will hold a working breakfast with Spanish businessmen in Kenya to learn first-hand about their situation and also the future prospects they see in the country.
After that, Sánchez will be received by the president, William Ruto. Elected in August, that of the Spanish president will be the first visit from a foreign president that he receives. The Kenyan president has also had the courtesy of inviting the businessmen who accompany him to the lunch that he will offer Sánchez. Both presidents will make an institutional declaration at the end of the meeting and the signing of a joint declaration is also expected.
The other highlight of the visit to Nairobi will be the visit to the UN office in the Kenyan capital, the only one in the global south. Here, he will meet with the director of the office, as well as with the head of the UN Environment Program (UNEP) and with that of UN Habitat, in addition to signing the honor book and planting a tree in his garden. , as do all the leaders who visit it.
To conclude, Sánchez will have the opportunity to meet at the Center for Research and Industrial Development in Kenya with beneficiaries of a project of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the New Africa Development Strategy (NEPAD) to promote the female economic empowerment.
After that, the president will travel to Pretoria, where the agenda will start on Thursday morning with a breakfast with Spanish scientists who work in different universities and institutions in South Africa. The president’s wish is to know the work they do and see how the Government can contribute in this area, the sources explained.
Next, the meeting with the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, with whom several agreements and a joint declaration will also be signed, and a press conference is also scheduled.
Both presidents will later be in charge of closing the business forum that will bring together Spanish businessmen, both already present in the African country and those who will travel for the occasion, and South Africans.
Sánchez will put the finishing touch to the tour by traveling to Johannesburg, where he will visit Constitution Hill, the site where the prison where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, among other illustrious prisoners, is located, and which has become the symbol of the fight against apartheid and for democracy in South Africa.
