S. Africa and Kenya seek to bolster cooperation

Kenyan President William Ruto's state visit to South Africa has solidified bilateral relations and cooperation in various sectors, business representatives from the two countries said.

The visit also saw South Africa and Kenya signing a range of agreements to boost cooperation in areas such as trade, skills development and maritime transport.

The agreements were signed on Thursday in Pretoria, South Africa during Ruto's three-day state visit to South Africa. Some 400 delegates comprising government officials and the business community met in Johannesburg for the Kenya-South Africa Business Forum on Thursday.

Speaking at the forum, leaders of both countries urged facilitation of bilateral trade and expand cooperation.

John Mwenda, CEO of the Kenya Investment Authority, said both countries explored cooperation in manufacturing, agricultural value chains and logistics, and enabling economic systems to ensure there is a free flow of trade and investment between both countries.

Mtho Xulu, president of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Kenya and South Africa can work together in telecommunications, information and communications technology, agroprocessing, and infrastructure development and logistics to support trade. Kenya and South Africa should strengthen the manufacturing base, he said, adding working with a big economy in East Africa will enable his country to penetrate the East African region.

"The stepping stone is to start with regional blocs, South Africa is anchoring Southern African Development Community, already trading in the region, in East Africa, Kenya is strategic. We believe that the biggest economies in the blocs strengthen their inter-trade and take those lessons to other parts of the continent. This interaction brings structured ways of increasing intra-Africa trade," said Xulu.