Kenya and the European Union have signed a long-negotiated trade agreement to increase the flow of goods between the two markets, as Brussels pursues stronger economic ties with Africa.
The agreement signed on Monday is the first broad trade deal between the EU and an African nation since 2016 and follows a spending spree by China on lavish infrastructure projects across the continent.
“Although today represents a moment of monumental promise, it is also the beginning of a historic partnership for historic transformation,” Kenyan President William Ruto said at a ceremony attended by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Kenya’s capital Nairobi.
“The core of this arrangement is to put real money into the pockets of ordinary people,” said Ruto.
EU chief von der Leyen said the partnership was a “win-win situation on both sides” and called on other East African nations to join the pact, which came after years of negotiations that concluded in June.
“We are deepening trade ties and building up our economic resilience,” she said.
Credit: rfi
