Kenya, Djibouti To Pursue Visa-Free Regime to Boost Trade and Investment

• Kenya and Djibouti have agreed to work towards a visa-free regime to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
• The decision was made during a meeting between Kenyan President William Ruto and Djiboutian President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh in Djibouti.
• The leaders also announced the establishment of the Kenya-Djibouti business council to drive economic cooperation.
• Djiboutian citizens visiting Kenya will no longer require visas, aiming to facilitate the movement of people, goods, and services in Africa.

In a bid to enhance trade and investment opportunities, Kenya and Djibouti have agreed to pursue a visa-free regime between the two countries.

The decision was reached during a meeting between Kenyan President William Ruto and his Djiboutian counterpart Ismaïl Omar Guelleh at the Palais Présidentiel in Djibouti.

During the meeting, the leaders also expressed their commitment to furthering the existing bilateral relations and exploring avenues for increased investment cooperation. As part of their efforts to boost commerce, President Ruto announced the establishment of the Kenya-Djibouti business council, which will facilitate and drive economic exchanges between the two nations.

To ease the movement of people and promote regional integration, President Ruto declared that Djiboutian citizens visiting Kenya would no longer be required to obtain visas. This move aligns with their shared goal of facilitating the free flow of goods, services, and people within Africa.

In addition to trade and investment, the leaders highlighted the potential for collaboration in the tourism and hospitality sectors. President Ruto emphasized that the development of these industries would be supported by the resumption of air travel between Nairobi and Djibouti.

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President Ruto underscored the significance of strengthening ties between Kenya and Djibouti in fostering stability in the region. “Our foremost assignment is to make the region, especially the Horn of Africa, stable,” he stated.

President Guelleh echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the pivotal role of peace in driving progress and transformation in Africa. “We can only develop our world when we are secure,” he asserted.

Furthermore, President Ruto called upon African leaders to collectively address challenges such as unemployment, poverty, and inequality. He stressed the need for Africa’s aspirations to take center stage in global affairs and for the continent’s unity to be reinforced. The Kenyan President highlighted the importance of free trade initiatives in creating employment opportunities and boosting incomes.

During his address to the National Assembly of Djibouti, President Ruto emphasized the need for a reformed and streamlined African Union, stating that it would provide Africa with a renewed sense of purpose. He also expressed support for the operationalization of a Pan-African Parliament, which he believes will enable the continent to tackle present-day challenges effectively.