Kenya and Seychelles inked a record number of 10 agreements on Monday, July 18, that paid significant focus on enhancing the blue economy.
According to the World Bank, the blue economy is the “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.” European Commission defines it as “All economic activities related to oceans, seas and coasts.
The cooperation in the blue economy sector agreement, which aims to strengthen capacity building and knowledge exchange in the governance aspects of the blue economy, as well as support the circular economy and collaboration in the aquaculture sector, was a key agreement among those inked.
The agreements will further bolster the long-standing, warm diplomatic ties that have existed between them since their independence.
The agreements were signed at State House, Victoria, in the island nation of Seychelles, which is located in the Indian Ocean, by Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Wavel Ramkalawan, who served as their host.
Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) for cooperation on maritime affairs as well as peace, security, and law enforcement at sea were also inked.
Speaking to the media after the agreements were signed, President Kenyatta declared that he and his host President Ramkalawan had decided to work together even more on issues of peace and security, particularly marine security.
“Seychelles is a leading champion of the blue economy. We have, in that regard, agreed to strengthen our collaboration in protecting and ensuring sustainable utilization of our ocean resources,” Kenyatta said.
The agreements that were signed by the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the two countries described the routes to be investigated to enable Kenya and Seychelles to fully utilize and further consolidate their current connections, and President Kenyatta complimented the JCC for putting them together.
The visit of President Kenyatta to Seychelles, according to President Ramkalawan, was crucial for the two nations because it reaffirmed the close ties that the two nations have shared for a long time.
“Kenya and Seychelles had substantial bilateral cooperation in fields such as education, health, trade, agriculture, civil aviation as well as strong people-to-people ties even before the establishment of diplomatic relations on 10th January 1990,” Ramkalawan said.
He thanked the Kenyan government for continuing to support the socio-economic development of Seychelles, where 846 Kenyans currently reside, including some ex-pats working in the fields of education and health.
“I have expressed my gratitude to President Kenyatta for the assistance provided by the 50 Kenyan health workers who were recruited by the Ministry of Health in March 2020 following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. I have reiterated my appreciation to him for the contribution of Kenyan teachers to our education system,” Ramkalawan said.
Responding to press inquiries, the two presidents asserted that by cooperating, the two nations will greatly expand the chances for their citizens, particularly in the blue economy and tourist sectors.
A Defence Cooperation Agreement, another one on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, MOUs on Tourism Development, and bilateral agreements in the agricultural, livestock, and cooperative sectors were among the other bilateral agreements signed.
MOUs on sports collaboration and partnership promotion for gender equality and women’s economic empowerment were also signed.
President Kenyatta pointed out that with genuine and strong partnerships, Africa can create a better future for its people.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Raychelle Omamo signed the agreements on the Kenyan side while Seychelles Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Sylvestre Radegonde signed on behalf of his country.
