Prime Minister Petr Fiala supported Czech exporters in Kenya and discussed defence and trade cooperation with President Ruto

Within his official tour to Africa, the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala visited another country - Kenya. He became the first Czech Prime Minister to visit this East African country. On Monday 6 November, he opened the Czech-Kenyan Business Forum in Nairobi, which was attended by more than 100 Kenyan businessmen. The Prime Minister also visited the National Defence College, which has been cooperating with the Czech Army. On Tuesday, 7 November, he held talks with Kenyan President William Ruto, Minister of Defence Aden Dual and other representatives of the army.

Kenya is a key partner of the Czech Republic in the region, it is the third largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa, which presents many opportunities for expanding trade cooperation between our countries. The Prime Minister therefore supported Czech exporters at the business forum. „There are several areas where there is great interest in developing cooperation. This concerns in particular digitalization, information technology, and supplies in the field of agriculture, including technology, machinery and everything related to agricultural production," said the Prime Minister. Within the business forum, which was attended by 112 guests from Kenyan business, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic and the Kenya Chamber of Commerce.

The Prime Minister also visited the National Defence College, where officers from 16 countries in Africa and Asia study. He discussed global security threats with the students. The Czech army has long cooperated with the college on various projects, for example, in the past it helped train the Kenyan armed forces.

The security situation in the region and strengthening defence cooperation were also among the main topics of the meeting with  William Ruto, President of Kenya. "Kenya is a stabilising element in this troubled region. There is room for expanding our cooperation for Czech companies operating in the defence industry. There is an opportunity of their involvement in some of the Kenyan army's modernisation projects," said the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

"Kenya is a country that seeks stability and peace and is interested in cooperation with Europe and the Czech Republic. I believe that this visit and my very warm and intensive meeting with President Ruto will be an impetus for further development of our relations. I believe that our companies will be able to start participation in particular projects or bring particular promises of cooperation," the Prime Minister added.

Following the discussions with the President of Kenya, Petr Fiala headed for a meeting with the Minister of Defence of Kenya, Mr. Aden Duale, and other representatives of the local army, including the Chief of General Staff. „The meeting covered security issues and the cooperation that has already been existing between our armies. Of course, we talked about topics related to the modernisation of the army, which is an opportunity for our defence industry,“ said the Czech Prime Minister after the meeting.

At the National Museum in Nairobi, the Prime Minister attended a presentation of Czech activities in the field of biodiversity conservation, research and innovation and learned about the continuation of the scientific and innovative project to save the northern white rhino. „The Czech-Kenyan cooperation on environmental protection is extremely important. The long-term efforts of the staff of the Dvůr Králové Zoo and their Kenyan colleagues in saving the northern white rhinoceros has been its essential symbol If we manage to complete the rescue of this rare mammal, it will be a great success," the Prime Minister said. There is also a Czech footprint in the museum as a part of the exhibition is dedicated to Opava-born writer Joy Adamson, who wrote her famous books about Elsa the lioness. Thei raised her here in the 1950s with her husband and successfully returned to the wild.

On his tour to sub-Saharan Africa, the Czech Prime Minister has already visited Ethiopia and Kenya, and is going to attend discussions in Ghana and Ivory Coast in the coming days.