Mutua holds bilateral talks with Australian assistant minister

Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS Alfred Mutua on Monday held a meeting with Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts.

The talks, held at Mutua's office at Harambee Avenue,  focused on the broad spectrum of issues that underpinned Kenya-Australia Bilateral Relations.

"We noted the role of the Kenyan diaspora in Australia and agreed to work together to promote their welfare as Kenya seeks more opportunities for her nationals," CS Mutua said.

Mutua added that in hosting Watts, he had acknowledged the significance of Kenya-Australia relations in Kenya’s development agenda.

He also welcomed the robust political, commercial and economic engagement between the two countries.

Emphasising the country's strategic positioning and connectivity, Mutua called on Australian businesses to invest in Kenya.

He urged them to take advantage of the positioning as a gateway to a  wider African market through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

"I called for a strong and revitalised Bilateral Cooperation Framework that gives structure to Kenya-Australia Bilateral Cooperation," he added.

On his part, Watts pointed out that Kenya-Australia relations were excellent and based on shared values.

The minister added that both countries were keen on positive multilateralism.

He further pointed out that the Australian government was seeking more engagement with Africa, assuring that it viewed Kenya as a strategic partner in this respect.