India and Kenya signed five agreements spanning education, culture, and various sectors, further solidifying bilateral relations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kenyan President Dr. William Samoyi Ruto engaged in bilateral and delegation-level talks, addressing mutual concerns and opportunities. The leaders expressed satisfaction with the continuous progress in trade and investment between the two nations.
During a joint press conference, PM Modi highlighted the significance of India’s collaboration with Africa, emphasizing the increased cooperation over the last decade. The Prime Minister welcomed Kenya’s decision to join the Global Biofuel Alliance and the International Solar Alliance, fostering joint efforts for big cat conservation through the International Big Cat Alliance.
Prime Minister Modi stated that both nations acknowledge terrorism as a severe global challenge and have decided to enhance mutual cooperation in anti-terrorism operations. The leaders discussed the growing collaboration in the defense sector, emphasizing joint military exercise capacity and connectivity between defense industries. The Prime Minister underscored the use of space technology for public welfare and expressed India’s readiness to share digital public infrastructure achievements with Kenya.
In a significant move, India offered a $250 million line of credit to support the modernization of Kenya’s agricultural sector. The leaders emphasized sharing experiences as agrarian economies and exploring avenues for collaboration in the field of digital public infrastructure.
Kenyan President Dr. Ruto highlighted the importance of addressing the situation in Somalia and Sudan. He expressed gratitude for India’s partnership and support in the health sector, noting that 70% of health goods in Kenya originate from India. President Ruto proposed manufacturing some health items in Kenya, enhancing collaboration between health professionals, and seeking India’s consideration for admitting Kenyan professionals for short courses.
The leaders issued a joint vision statement on maritime cooperation, aiming to enhance collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. They also discussed credit provision for farmers through collaboration between the National Agricultural and Rural Bank of India and Kenya’s Agricultural Finance Corporation.
The talks reaffirmed the commitment to bilateral cooperation, covering diverse areas such as trade, investment, development partnerships, defense, security, culture, and people-to-people contacts. The leaders emphasized harnessing new areas of cooperation for shared prosperity and well-being.
Earlier, President Ruto paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and received a formal welcome from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Impact on Bilateral Relations: The agreements and discussions between India and Kenya underscore the commitment to deepening ties and exploring new avenues for cooperation. The $250 million line of credit for agricultural modernization demonstrates India’s support for Kenya’s development goals. The joint vision statement on maritime cooperation signifies collaborative efforts in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region. The comprehensive talks and agreements are expected to strengthen the overall bilateral relationship, fostering mutual growth and prosperity.