• The royal visit between November 21-24 is at the invitation of the United Nations Development Programme, to which the Crown Prince is the goodwill ambassador.
• The Crown Princess is also Advocate Emerita for the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Goals.
Image: ELIUD KIBII
Kenya will next week play host to Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria.
The royal visit between November 21-24, is at the invitation of the United Nations Development Programme, to which the Crown Prince is the goodwill ambassador.
The Crown Princess is also Advocate Emerita for the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Goals.
Speaking at a joint briefing at the residence of Sweden Ambassador Caroline Vicini, the envoys said the visit will cover among other areas innovations and startups, waste management, trade and investments.
Norway Ambassador Gunnar Andreas Holm was also at the briefing.
The royals, the ambassadors said, will each be accompanied by their respective ministers for International Development, as well as trade delegations.
They will visit Meru and Kwale counties to see the different projects undertaken by UNDP in Kenya.
"We are looking at renewable energy and sustainable development with a special focus on food security on how Norwegian and Swedish companies can create solutions in these areas. Environment and climate change will feature prominently during the visit," Ambassador Gunnar said.
On her part, Ambassador Vicini said Sweden is interested in sharing solutions on mass transportation system, especially the Bus Rapid Transit.
"There is a great interest from our industry in mass transportation starting hopefully in Nairobi where we have several companies that are interested among them Scania and Volvo,"Ambassador Vicini said.
"We hope to be able to propose solutions. We have a considerable presence in a number of companies in the medical sphere as well."
In an earlier joint press release, Ambassador Holm said the purpose of the bilateral part of the visit is to strengthen Kenya-Norway relations on trade and business development, climate adaptation, biodiversity and broader multilateral interests.
“Norway will triple its funding for renewable energy, food security and meteorological services to better equip developing countries to deal with climate change,” the Norwegian Ambassador said.
In the joint statement, the envoys said the diversity of the Kenyan economy offers substantial opportunities for partnerships between Nordic countries and Kenya.
Partnership areas include environment, health technology, renewable energy, financial services, high-tech solutions for agriculture and the green transition.
Ambassador Vicini said the Crown Princess is a frequent visitor to Kenya, and she is the patron of a foundation that runs a school and health centre in Meru county.
“As she travels up-country, she will also get a first-hand appreciation of the severe challenges brought by the on-going drought. Sweden is now increasing its funding to partners towards drought response in Kenya’s affected counties” Vicini said.
The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess will also inaugurate the new premises of the Swedish and Norwegian trade promotion offices in Nairobi.
They will also open a business forum, bringing together different Norwegian, Swedish and Kenyan businesses to discuss opportunities for trade and investment.
“The business forum will offer both the public and private sector opportunities to share and exchange knowledge, as well as to foster stronger relations between the two Nordic countries and Kenya,” they said.