Kenya and Japan are expected to conclude talks on direct flights between Tokyo and Nairobi at the 6th TICAD summit set for the city in August.
Describing
Japan’s participation in Kenya’s development over the last 50 years as "enormous", William Ruto noted the country has been instrumental to infrastructure development.
Ruto cited roads
and the Port of Mombasa but said there is room for further engagement in trade, investment and the movement of people by enabling Kenya Airways' direct flights to Tokyo.
This, he said, will facilitate easier movement and
improve business transactions between the countries.
He spoke at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi, on Tuesday, when he held talks with Katsyuki Kawai, a special advisor to Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Ruto said Kenya and Japan signed an understanding under the universal health strategy that will see Japan give $33 million through the National Hospital Insurance Fund.
He said they also discussed the development of special economic zones in Mombasa and the second container terminal, the DP saying the state is encouraging private sector participation.
“We want to find a balance between public and private participation in the development of the special economic zones with public participation being very minimal,” he said.
Ruto said
the
Tokyo International Conference on African Development will reignite world attention on Africa's needs and address the trade imbalance with Japan. He noted that the summit is taking place
outside Japan for the first time since its launch 23 years ago.
Kawai who was accompanied by Japanese Ambassador Tatsushi Terada and Ambassador for TICAD Toshitsugu Uesawa underscored relations between Kenya and Japan.
He expressed Japan’s commitment to the relationship saying focus on trade and investment will be deepened.
Also present were Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia
and Industrialization's Adan Mohammed.
The DP earlier bade
farewell to outgoing Algerian Ambassador Saad Maandi who said his country was willing to work with like-minded nations in eradicating global terrorism.
Ruto said Kenya and Algeria's security challenges require a global approach, adding the countries share an understanding of regional and international issues.
He affirmed Kenya’s commitment to the war on terror saying the contribution of troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia was a show of this.
Ruto said Kenya
had a robust policy that gave preference to African countries in a bid to improve of intra-Africa trade and investment.
"It is because of this policy that we have seen an increase in the number of people coming to Kenya
from other African countries
to interact with us and do business," he said.
"There is tremendous potential in trade among African Countries. That needs to be developed besides trade with other development partners.”