Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has urged Europe and Africa to work together to harness opportunities that will translate into tangible actions for countries.
Mudavadi said that by prioritising sustainable development, promoting inclusive growth and fostering collaboration across sectors, both regions can unlock their full potential, paving the way for a brighter future.
He also welcomed Denmark’s commitment to sustainable development, saying there are immense opportunities for Denmark and Africa to align their policies and investments with sustainable development goals.
"Let us remain steadfast in our dedication to cooperation and dialogue, translating our discussions into tangible actions that foster positive change in our societies. Together, we can build stronger partnerships, foster innovation, and create a more prosperous world for future generations," he said.
He made the remarks during the start of the Danish Government’s new approach to strengthened partnerships with Africa at the High-Level Dialogue meeting in Copenhagen.
Mudavadi is in Denmark to represent President William Ruto in the meeting.
"We have witnessed a tremendous improvement in the level of engagement between Denmark and Africa and more so with Kenya as a comparison 15 years ago and now. What we need to focus on are the structures of engagement to see if they are having the necessary impact required on the African continent," Mudavadi said.
Mudavadi lauded the government of the Kingdom of Denmark for its support of Africa’s trade and investment initiatives saying Africa and Kenya in particular are ready to foster more friendly partnerships amidst the global competitive market.
He argued that there is a need for engagements that will yield a structure that has a greater impact on the livelihoods of Africans and help African countries get out of poverty and crises.
This, he said, will make a lot of sense to the partnerships between Denmark and European Countries at large with Africa.
Owing to the proximity between the two continents, Mudavadi said Europe has always been a preferred market for Africa’s agricultural products.
However, he said, the market access for agricultural products from the continent has been restricted by trade barriers arising from the ever-changing EU standards.
Mudavadi noted that building partnerships in Africa’s food production will drive sustainable production practices and enable farmers to meet the global standards necessary for enhanced market access.
In Kenya, Mudavadi assured that government agencies are continuously improving national systems to ensure compliance and traceability along the supply chain, meeting the standards necessary to facilitate trade.
"We call for partnership with Denmark and EU to invest in food production to enable Africa’s producers to meet global safety standards," he urged.
He said Kenya, in particular, recognises the centrality of global and regional peace and security in the development of our economies.
