Qatari-Kenyan Relations.. Bilateral Cooperation and Mutual Appreciation

The Qatari-Kenyan relations enjoy mutual respect and appreciation and developing cooperation at all levels.
The anticipated visit of HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Republic of Kenya aims at strengthening and developing the relations between the two countries, enhancing cooperation and coordination in issues of joint interest, and signing agreements and Memorandums of Understanding in several fields.
The visit will also consolidate the agreements signed during the visit paid by the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta to Doha in 2014, and will contribute to broadening cooperation in new areas.
Kenya considers HH the Emir's visit an opportunity to open new horizons of mutual cooperation and promising economic and investment chances, under the country's investment protection laws that attract investors from all countries and ensure the flow of their business and the success of their investments in all sectors without exception.
The Republic of Kenya seeks through its promising investment climate and its new laws to attract foreign investment and provide the largest possible employment opportunities. The country's economy is stable and growing, and it has become an economic force in the African continent thanks to its stable environment.
The tourism and agriculture sectors are the most promising areas for Qatari investors and businessmen, supported by a package of measures and facilities, labor availability and a good investment climate.
Kenya also seeks to attract Qatari investors in the fields of agro-processing, livestock, fisheries, leather and poultry products as well as infrastructure development, financial markets, banking and capital markets, and the various types of tourism. Kenya also enjoys promising opportunities in mining and mineral exploration, as well as investment opportunities in the field of communications and information technology, and in the various energy domains.
In addition to its wide-range of promising business opportunities, Kenya is distinguished by its strategic geographical location, which makes it an important gateway to the Middle East and Africa, in addition to its modern ports which serve many of the neighboring countries that do not overlook the Red Sea.
In 2014, Qatar and Kenya signed seven cooperation agreements in the fields of economy, trade, technical cooperation, the promotion and protection of investments, legal cooperation, and an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of financial evasion with respect to income taxes. The two sides also signed MoU of understanding for cooperation in mining, MoU between Qatar Chamber and the Kenyan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and MoU on the development of a power plant in the Republic of Kenya.
In April 2015, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of the financial sector aimed at identifying future cooperation between them in this field. The MoU included the exchange of best practices relevant to the development of the financial sector. 
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Qatar and Kenya on December 28, 2003, the two countries have been working towards greater mutual support on issues of mutual concern. 
Qatari diplomacy is highly respected by the Kenyan side and is receiving constant commendations for its interaction with the most prominent regional and international issues, and for its steadfast and solid position in the Middle East and in the international community. 
The Kenyan appreciation has emerged for the Qatari role in peace and development on more than one occasion, including Qatar's presidency of the 13th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII), currently chaired by Kenya at its 14th session, and was emphasised by Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President of UNCTAD Amina Mohammed. 
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya also expressed her country's official support to Qatar's candidate for the UNESCO and said that Kenya will seek to ensure the success of this candidacy. 
The State of Qatar also backs the Republic of Kenya against criminal acts targeting innocent people on its territories as Doha has on many occasions condemned and denounced all criminal acts against the stability of Kenya. 
Qatar is also keen to help the Kenyan people, especially those affected by the drought by launching emergency relief appeals and sustainable development projects in the worst-hit areas, such as RAF International University, which is the largest educational project adopted by a charity, not only in Qatar but also in the Arab world, and the "Educate A Child", which is one of the programmes run by Education Above All Foundation in cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to accelerate the provision of education to 300,000 children in remote areas in this country. 
Food and Light is another initiative, aimed at enabling thousands of children to be educated and providing the necessary support for their families at a total cost of QR60 million in 20 Asian and African countries, including the Republic of Kenya. 
Economic Empowerment is a project implemented by Qatar Charity in the northeast of Kenya to help the residents of that area to cope with the severe drought that hit the region, leaving very difficult economic effects on the people who lost their livestock, which is their only source of livelihood. 
Kenya was praised by the international community for its development and relief efforts amid difficult circumstances. In early March, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his full solidarity with the Kenyan government in light of the drought affecting the country and hoped that the international community would support Kenya as reward for the its generosity, especially with regard to refugees. 
Guterres also said that Kenya is a model in all aspects, not only on the African continent, but around the world proving that in today's international community there are countries that are moving in order to make sure that the three pillars of the UN can be fully met peace and security, sustainable and inclusive development and human rights.

Source: QNA