Narendra Modi describes 'Kenya a valued partner of India'
Nairobi, July 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday described Kenya as a valued partner of India while calling for expansion of Indian investments in this east African country.
"Kenya is a valued friend and trusted partner of India," Modi said in a joint press statement with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta following delegation-level talks between the two sides.
Narendra Modi boosts Ties between India and Kenya
"The bonds between the two countries are long-standing and rich," he said.
The Prime Minister said the historical people-to-people ties between the two countries have provided a strong basis for a wide-ranging partnership which extended "from agriculture and health to developmental assistance, from trade and commerce to investment, from closer contact between our people to capacity building, from regular political consultations to defence and security cooperation".
"India is Kenya's largest trading partner and second largest investor here," he said. "But there is potential to achieve much more."
Modi said the economies of both countries would benefit by "further expansion of investment ties, a more diversified trade basket and nurturing greater intensity of commercial links".
On
his
part,
Kenyatta
said
that
both
sides
broached
a
whole
number
of
critical
issues
in
Monday's
talks.
He
said
that
India
has
promised
to
help
in
the
area
of
health
and
would
develop
a
cancer
hospital
in
Kenya.
India would also help set up a pharmaceutical company in Kenya to manufacture life-saving drugs.
India is Kenya's largest trading partner, says Narendra Modi
"We are keen in exploiting ties in sports also -- India in terms of cricket, Kenya in terms of athletics," Kenyatta said.
Earlier on Monday, Modi laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Kenya's first President Jomo Kenyatta. Later in the day, the Prime Minister will visit the University of Nairobi and address students there. He will also attend an India-Kenya business summit.
After
completing
his
engagements
in
Kenya,
the
Prime
Minister
will
leave
for
India
on
Monday
evening.
Modi
arrived
in
Kenya
from
Tanzania
on
Sunday
on
the
final
leg
of
his
four-nation
Africa
tour.
Soon after his arrival here, he addressed an Indian diaspora rally that was attended by over 20,000 people.
Kenya is home to around 80,000 people of Indian origin.
This is the first prime ministerial visit from India to Kenya in 35 years after the visit of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1981.
Apart from Kenya and Tanzania, Modi's five-day trip to Africa also took him to Mozambique and South Africa.
IANS