By Rosana Philander
During a recent visit by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to South Africa, the two countries announced an agreement on a Strategic Partnership Framework towards the creation of a Pan Africa Airline Group that draws on the capabilities and advantages of the two airlines.
This partnership will happen between South African Airways and Kenya Airways. President Cyril Ramaphosa said they also acknowledge progress made in the areas of tourism, including the introduction of e-visas for Kenyans travelling to South Africa.
Ramaphosa said: “We are committed to exploring further measures to ease travel between our two countries as an important part of strengthening trade, investment, tourism and cultural ties. Kenya is one of South Africa’s largest trading partners in Africa outside of SADC, and we are committed to increasing the volume and broadening the composition of trade between our two countries. We want to see Kenyan products appearing on our shelves. We want to see tea from Kenya, coffee from the hills of Kilamanjaro and fresh cut flowers.”
Kenyatta said: “We want to remove all the barriers that denies volume of trade between the countries. Today you see a political commitment. In six months’ time we will discuss it again. We also look forward to seeing a visa- free system between the two countries. That will help trade and investment.”
During his visit Kenyatta also visited Transnet. He said the countries were looking at linking its railways together for the movement of goods.
Deputy Director-General of Export Promotion, Development and Outward Investment at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Lerato Mataboge, said they were looking at increasing the levels of investments between two countries. “There are many South African companies that have invested in Kenya, in sectors such as Information and communications technology (ICT), business services, real estate, and financial services. We are committed to seeing and facilitating more investments from Kenya into South Africa and are looking forward to joint-venture partnerships between our companies and academic institutions,” she said.
The forum also saw three cooperation agreements signed between Equity Bank Kenya and Western Cape Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Wesgro); Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI); and between Kenyan Airways and South African Airways.
During the course of our discussions, the countries also talked about the recent developments in respective regions, and particularly the situations in Mozambique, Sudan and Ethiopia.
Ramaphosa said: “South Africa aligns itself with the SADC position to support and assist Mozambique in dealing with instability in the Cabo Delgado area. The Southern African Development Community continues to be seized with the situation in Mozambique and a consolidated regional approach in dealing with the matter is being pursued.
“With respect to the Sudan, we strongly condemn any unconstitutional change of government and call on all the parties to engage in constructive, good faith and peaceful dialogue to restore the country’s constitutional order. President Kenyatta and I discussed the grave situation in Ethiopia.
We expressed our conviction that there is scope for dialogue among the warring parties in Ethiopia, and that there is an urgent need for all parties to the conflict to commit to an immediate, indefinite, negotiated ceasefire and an inclusive political dialogue.”