This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
Uhuru Seeks Air Transport Link with Jamaica ¶
President Uhuru Kenyatta is on a tour of Jamaica, where he is exploring opportunities for air transport connections between the two nations. The President believes that air transport will boost economic ties between Kenya and Jamaica, leading to increased economic growth for both countries.
During his talks with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, President Uhuru emphasized the need for air transport connections between Kenya and Jamaica. He noted that flights from the East Coast of Africa to Jamaica will help strengthen economic ties between Caribbean countries and the African continent.
President Uhuru also encouraged Jamaican investors to come to Kenya, citing the country's status as a hub for logistics and transport, financial services, ICT innovations. He also discussed ways of strengthening cooperation between Kenya and Jamaica in the blue economy, which he said holds tremendous potential for wealth and job creation.
As part of the agreements signed between Kenya and Jamaica, the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Center will open its first satellite centre in Nairobi, based at the University of Nairobi. The two leaders also agreed to cooperate in sports development, particularly in athletics, a sport in which both countries are global icons.
Prime Minister Holness noted that Kenya and Jamaica have had strong ties since the days of Marcus Garvey, whose teachings of African unity had a significant impact on Kenya's push for independence from British rule in the 1960s.
President Uhuru is accompanied by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, Cabinet Secretaries Monica Juma, Najib Balala, and Amina Mohamed on the trip. He will be the chief guest at the 57th Jamaica Independence Day celebrations.
