Kenya and Angola will push for the resumption of direct flights between Nairobi and Luanda as part of their efforts to spur bilateral trade, leaders of the two countries announced on Saturday.
Speaking at the State House after holding talks with his Angola counterpart João Lourenço, Kenyan President William Ruto said Kenya-Angola trade has been on the rise in the past four years.
However, he observed that more needs to be done to unlock the underlying potential, noting that, “There is a huge scope for these numbers to go up if we strengthen our interconnection.”
Besides flights, the Head of State announced the activation of a visa-free regime to ease the free movement of people.
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“Angolans coming to Kenya will not require a visa. Angola will equally consider the same for Kenyans,” said President Ruto. This, he added, will facilitate a wider interaction of diverse ideas, resources and businesses.
The two leaders also pledged to support Angola’s candidature for membership in the African Union Peace and Security Council.
During Saturday’s occassion, a total of eleven legal instruments were signed. They include agreements on wildlife and conservation, shipping and maritime, mining, youth affairs, forestry, agriculture, ICT, oil and gas, health, diplomacy and public service.
For his part, President Lourenço told the media that the instruments provide a rich foundation for the growth of Kenya-Angola relations.
“This will usher in a new era of our common prosperity,” he said.
