India has been a reliable development partner for Kenya, PM Modi says
India has decided to provide USD250 million to Kenya for modernisation of its agriculture sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said following wide-ranging talks with visiting Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto in New Delhi on Tuesday (December 5, 2023).
 
During the talks, Prime Minister Modi and President Ruto discussed ways to deepen economic linkages between the two nations. They also decided to work together in areas like technology, digital innovations, and clean energy. 
 
"Had productive talks with President @WilliamsRuto today. We got the opportunity to review the full range of India-Kenya relations. We discussed ways to deepen economic linkages between our nations. Our nations will also work together in sectors like technology, digital innovations, clean energy and more," Prime Minister Modi wrote on social media platform X. 
 
India has always given high priority to Africa in its foreign policy and has expanded its overall ties with the continent on a mission mode in the last nearly one decade, Prime Minister Modi said in his media statement after the talks.
 
Pointing out that India has been a reliable development partner for Kenya, he referred to the important capacity building and skill development assistance provided through the ITEC and ICCR scholarships.
 
"I am confident that President Ruto's visit to India will not only strengthen bilateral ties but will give a new momentum to our engagement with Africa," he added. He also expressed happiness that the visit came shortly after the African Union became a part of the G20.
 
Providing more details through a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the two leaders took stock of the entire sweep of bilateral cooperation including trade & investment, development partnership, defence, security, culture and people-to-people contacts.
 
"They also reaffirmed the commitment to harness new areas of cooperation for shared prosperity and well-being of people of both the countries," Bagchi added.
 
President Ruto is on a state visit to India from December 4-6 2023. This is his first visit to India in his present capacity.
 
A Presidential visit from Kenya is taking place after a period of over six years and is expected to strengthen and invigorate the bilateral relations between the two countries, the MEA said while announcing the visit on December 2, 2023.