President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed bilateral agreements with President of Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa which aims at enhancing trade and people-to-people interactions.
The president who is on a three- day State visit to the DRC, signed sign agreements on counter terrorism, small arms and light weapons, immigration, custom and border control and police cooperation.
Other areas of the bilateral agreements will be on aviation, maritime security, cyber security, agriculture, transport and infrastructure. According to Kenya’s Ambassador to DR Congo, Dr George Masafu the visit is meant to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. The focus on diplomacy, trade, security and other areas will build both sides, in a win-win situation.
Investing in DRC’s emerging service sector
He also encouraged Kenyans to invest in DRC’s emerging service sector citing the example of Kenya’s Equity Bank which has successfully positioned itself to become the country’s second-largest financial institution.
He identified aviation, insurance, hospitality, mining and construction as some of the other sectors that present the highest potential for success and encouraged Kenyan traders to take advantage of direct flights between Nairobi and Kinshasa by Kenya Airways.
A new deal to handle cargo from the port of Mombasa that grants the DRC certain privileges for using Kenyan facilities was also signed between the two. When fully implemented, the deal will address delays on DRC imports by dedicating clearing channels for the goods headed for the DR Congo market.
The Kenyan ambassador noted that the civil war in parts of DR Congo had hindered trade, noting that the return of political stability in 2014, had seen more Kenyan businesses set up shop in the country.
