The German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday received the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya, Ambassador Amina Mohammed, who visited Germany, for talks at the Foreign Office in Berlin.
The German Foreign Minister emphasized the close ties between Germany and Kenya which link our two countries politically, economically and culturally. German companies are looking at Kenya as a regional hub from where to enter the East African market.
In the first half of this year, a Kenyan/East African-German Business Forum shall explore further opportunities for cooperation. The German delegation is to be headed by former German President Horst Köhler who CS Amina Mohammed also met in Berlin.
The Cabinet Secretary confirmed that Kenya wants to attract still more international and German companies and investors.
Minister Steinmeier noted with appreciation the Kenyan role as a anchor of stability in the region, in particular its efforts for peace and stability in neighbouring South Sudan and Somalia.
Both Ministers expressed their hope that the recent agreements reached in Addis Ababa will contribute to a stabilisation of the situation in South Sudan.
Minister Mohammed emphasized the challenges of the critical humanitarian situation in and around South Sudan. It is important to create humanitarian corridors to facilitate the return of refugees as soon as possible.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced that the German Government will closely analyze the dynamic changes on the African continent. To this end, the government will convene a strategic meeting in the next couple of weeks.
Germany and Kenya have close relations of long standing.
After Kenya became independent in 1963, Germany was the first country to recognize the new state. At the end of last year, both countries successfully concluded government negotiations on development cooperation in the years to come.
The Kenyan Cabinet Secretary is one of the first African Foreign Ministers Minister Steinmeier has met since taking office in December 2013.-KBC
