Kenya: Kenya, South Africa Sign 6 Deals Including Pact On Trade Facilitation

Nairobi — Kenya and South Africa on Thursday signed six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at deepening trade, maritime connectivity, skills development and cultural cooperation.

The two nations announced the pacts at Union Buildings as Presidents William Ruto and Cyril Ramaphosa intensified efforts to strengthen African integration and intra-continental commerce.

The agreements were signed in Pretoria following bilateral talks between the two leaders at the start of Ruto's State Visit.

The six pacts cover trade facilitation, maritime cooperation, gender equality and women empowerment, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), arts and culture, and sports and recreation.

Among the key agreements was an MoU on trade facilitation through cooperation in standardisation, technical regulations, conformity assessment, accreditation and metrology, a move expected to ease market access and reduce non-tariff barriers between Africa's two leading regional economies.

A second agreement focused on shipping and maritime cooperation, underscoring growing efforts by Nairobi and Pretoria to strengthen logistics networks and support implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Speaking after witnessing the signing ceremony, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described Kenya as one of South Africa's most strategic partners on the continent, saying the agreements would provide a stronger framework for expanding bilateral cooperation.

"The memoranda of understanding that have just been signed provide a legal framework to further expand our cooperation, a cooperation that continues to deepen each time our officials and ministers engage with each other," Ramaphosa said.

He noted that Kenya remains South Africa's largest trading partner in East Africa and a major destination for South African investment in telecommunications, financial services, retail, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and infrastructure.

Ramaphosa said both countries had agreed to leverage the AfCFTA to drive industrialisation, job creation and the development of regional value chains.

"President Ruto and I agreed that the African Continental Free Trade Area must serve as a catalyst for inclusive growth, industrialisation and job creation for our peoples," he said.

The South African leader also called for greater Kenyan investment in South Africa, saying Pretoria wants to see more Kenyan products enter its market.

"We want to see more Kenyan businesses investing in our market, and we want to see more Kenyan goods on the shelves of our country," he said.