Kenya, Somalia to sign economic cooperation pact

[General Duke]

Kenya, Somalia to sign economic cooperation pact

Posted to the Web Feb 17, 16:12

 

 

Nairobi, Kenya.-- Kenya and Somalia are fine-tuning an economic cooperation strategy which is expected to culminate in the creation of a joint commission to explore areas of advancing economic development in the Horn of Africa nation, officials said here on Tuesday.

 

Kenyan Foreign Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere said during talks with Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi that the joint ministerial commission is expected to meet soon to push forward the economic cooperation agenda.

 

The economic cooperating agreement will spell various sectors in which the Kenyan government would help the Somalia authorities to get back on their knees after a 14-year period of strife.

 

"We are working on a joint cooperation strategy to advance our economic development," Mwakwere told journalists after a closed- door meeting with the Somalia premier.

 

Kenyan officials believe Somalia has a viable economic potential in livestock, fisheries sectors and has a very vibrant telecommunication industry which has continued to thrive despite the 14-year civil war which has rocked the nation.

 

Somalia also enjoys a vibrant aviation industry boosted by the 50,000 US dollars a day "khat" trade between the two nations and the 14 daily flights from Mogadishu to Kenya which are being conducted through the Nairobi-based Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.

 

Kenyan aviation authorities are expected to help Mogadishu re- establish their airspace safety in the meantime when the UN civil aviation arm, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which degated the job to KCAA, reverts the job to Mogadishu.

 

Ghedi said his country needed the support of all nations to enable it get back on its feet, saying after 14 years of destruction, the country was ready for reconstruction.

 

"We need support of all other nations in order to serve our people as a government and start the contruction. This task cannot be done without the support of all the other people," Ghedi told a joint news conference during which he outlined his government`s relocation plan.

 

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