President William Ruto and the Chief of Kenya Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla were on Monday morning, spotted sharing light moments at State House before the visiting Indonesian President H.E. Joko Widodo arrived at the State House, Nairobi.
The two were also joined by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo is on a significant state visit to Kenya and is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Ruto. The visit marks President Widodo's first to Kenya and the entire African continent, with the intention of enhancing diplomatic ties with nations that Indonesia shares relations with.
Highlighting the historical connections between Indonesia and Africa, President Widodo underlined Indonesia's pivotal role in the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung.
This conference played a crucial role in addressing East-West tensions and fostering a commitment to neutrality during the Cold War era, leading to the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement.
President Widodo expressed the significance of carrying the spirit of the Bandung Conference into his visit to African countries, aiming to reinforce solidarity and collaboration among nations of the Global South.
The visit signifies Indonesia's commitment to fostering stronger ties with African nations and strengthening South-South cooperation.
Kenya established a Diplomatic mission in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, last year, further strengthening the diplomatic bridge between the two nations.
The discussions between the leaders at Nairobi's State House are anticipated to yield a Preferential Trade Agreement between the two countries. This trade agreement is designed to enhance market access by reducing tariff barriers and creating a favorable business environment. This move is aimed at reversing the decline in the volume of traded goods observed between the two countries in 2022.
According to the latest economic survey of 2023, Kenya's imports from Indonesia experienced a substantial decline of about 38.8 percent, dropping from Sh44.4 billion in 2021 to Sh27.13 billion in 2022. Despite the decrease, Kenya's exports to Indonesia increased to Sh1.14 billion in 2022.
The signing of the Preferential Trade Agreement during President Widodo's visit holds the potential to revitalize trade between the two nations, fostering economic growth and strengthening the bond between Indonesia and Kenya.
This historic visit underscores the mutual commitment to enhancing diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations, setting the stage for future collaboration and cooperation.
The Indonesian President was accorded a 21 gun salute by the KDF forces when he landed in State House
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Indonesia Indonesian Joko Widodo Kenya Defence Forces State House
