22 Jul 2019

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s three-day state visit to Kenya underpins the importance that him and his Kenya counterpart, President Uhuru Kenyatta attach to existing bilateral relations.

The Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Unity Dow, made the remarks during the fifth session of Botswana/Kenya Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC) ministerial segment in Nairobi yesterday.

“The state visit by President Masisi also demonstrates commitment at the highest political level for the two countries to further the bonds of their friendship and cooperation,” she said, adding that steady progress had been made following establishment of the JPCC in 2001.

The two nations have cooperated on various areas such as health, agriculture, tourism, human resource management, and defence.

Dr Dow stated that the two allies should make use of the state visit to remove anything that could impede smooth cooperation so that the ultimate goal of improving livelihoods could be be realised.

In addition, Dr Dow said the private sector should play a critical part in unleashing avenues for job creation and poverty creation.

Private sector participation, she said, would help expedite transforming economies of the two countries from resource-based economies to knowledge-based ones.

For her part, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs in Kenya, Ms Monica Juma said she and Dr Dow were given firm instructions by the heads of state to use the JPCC as a launching pad to leverage on the excellent relationship that existed between the two countries to maximize results.

She said JPCC helped bridge outstanding political ties between the two African states.

Minister Dow and Ms Juma also signed agreed minutes at the end of the ministerial segment to pave way for a meeting between President Masisi and President Kenyatta today. ENDS