Kenya and Qatar have signed agreements of cooperation on tourism, education, and culture.
This was part of activities that marked the Emir of Qatar’s state visit to Kenya on Tuesday.
The agreements were signed after President Uhuru Kenyatta and His Highness Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held bilateral talks at State House, Nairobi.
The Kenyan government also presented proposals new opportunities for investment to its Qatari counterpart.
The MoU on tourism cooperation between Kenya and Qatar provides for the creation of conditions for long-term collaboration in tourism.
This will be executed through the exchange of expertise, statistics, marketing, and promotion.
The agreement on education, higher education, scientific research, and technology will be actualised through exchanges of information, expertise and visits.
The two countries also signed an agreement that provides for cooperation in the understanding and promotion of each other’s cultural arts and matters.
They will hold joint festivals, symposia, and exhibitions as part of the deal's deliverables.
Uhuru hailed the visit by the Emir as a testimony of the cordial relations between Kenya and the Persian Gulf nation.
He said the signed agreements will facilitate implementation of projects in various sectors of the economy.
Uhuru said the deal with usher in proposals that would be presented to the Qatari leader during his visit.
"Kenya will, therefore, appreciate your country’s support for development projects in infrastructure, education, energy, tourism, and hospitality sectors among others," he said.
He encouraged Qatar to continue using Kenya as a springboard for its investments in the COMESA market region.
The President said Kenya has the right mix of being a regional business, financial, transport and industrial hub.
He also thanked the government of Qatar for the support it gave to the National Treasury to establish the Nairobi International Finance Center (NIFC).
The President said the government appreciates the job opportunities for Kenyans in Qatar.
He requested the Emir to give more Kenyans jobs in his country and support training on aviation.
On his part, Qatari Emir said it was unfortunate that Kenya and Qatar have in the past failed to exploit the historical ties between the two regions.
He said his visit to Kenya will go a long way in strengthening mechanisms to exploit the new opportunities that were created after President Kenyatta’s State Visit to Qatar in 2014.
Al Thani also lauded Kenya for its efforts in fighting terror, saying that terrorism is a global problem that requires the world coming together to provide a global solution.
The Qatari leader also assured Uhuru that his nation remains committed to supporting Kenya in the establishment of the international financial center in Nairobi.
He also said that Qatar will share its experience of being a football 2022 world cup host with Kenya.