Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto, on a three-day state visit to India, emphasized the strong and longstanding friendship between the two nations. President Ruto, welcomed with a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, expressed his commitment to consolidating the diplomatic ties that date back to 1948.
In a press conference, President Ruto commended India’s digital advancements, announcing Kenya’s intention to sign agreements in the digital space. He revealed that Kenya’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology visited India to learn about digital ID and government service digitization. Ruto praised India’s achievements, particularly in leveraging technology for effective governance.
The Kenyan President outlined key areas of collaboration, including rural development, agriculture, vaccine manufacturing, and genomics. Both countries are set to sign memorandum of understanding (MoUs) to foster cooperation in these domains. Ruto highlighted the importance of enhancing business relationships, expressing optimism about strengthening economic ties between India and Kenya.
President Ruto underscored his shared vision with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly on matters concerning the Global South and the reform of the international financial structure. He thanked Prime Minister Modi and President Droupadi Murmu for the warm welcome.
The visiting dignitary also laid a wreath at Rajghat and paid his respects to Mahatma Gandhi. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar called on the Kenyan President last evening. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said he appreciated President Ruto’s perspectives on the concerns of the Global South and valued his insights for the further strengthening of India – Kenya bilateral ties.
The Kenyan President will also participate in a business and investment event in New Delhi. A Presidential visit from Kenya is taking place after a period of over six years. The visit is expected to strengthen and invigorate the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The visit signifies a deepening partnership between India and Kenya, with a focus on technological exchange, economic collaboration, and mutual understanding on global issues.
(Inputs from ANI)