Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Havana, Oct 2. - Kenya and Cuba have promising opportunities to expand and diversify their relations in various sectors of mutual benefit, said their new ambassador to the island, Everlyne Mwenda Karisa.
Health, education, sports, agriculture, culture, commerce, tourism, scientific research are several of the fields in which “our countries can cooperate and improve their ties,” the Head of Mission, who recently took office, related in an interview with Prensa Latina. She is enthusiastic about promoting bilateral ties.
Kenya, an East African country with 54 million inhabitants, and Cuba established diplomatic relations in December 1995, and in February 2002 they signed a first Collaboration Agreement that promoted professional exchange.
Cuba is acknowledged for having a very good health system and medical training programs, so Kenya can benefit from that experience and devise cooperation initiatives in this necessary area, Mwenda noted.
“Creating scholarship programs along with other initiatives can facilitate professional and student exchange, particularly in the fields of medicine, biotechnology and technology,” proposed the ambassador who, in addition, represents Nairobi before the countries of the Caribbean Community and some of the Central American Integration System.
In 2001, Nairobi and Havana signed a Collaboration Agreement which allowed dozens of young Kenyans to study at universities on the island, especially medicine, and Cuban doctors to travel to work in that African country.
You can also collaborate – she indicated – in agriculture by sharing sustainable farming techniques that contribute to guaranteeing food security, while “we can promote cultural diplomacy through food, art, music and dance,” she added.
Another area that the ambassador suggested in which the two countries can cooperate is tourism, “with joint initiatives that attract visitors and show the natural beauties of Kenya and the cultural and historical attractions of Cuba, and exchange experiences in best practices. in tourism marketing,” Mwenda considered.
In her opinion, new commercial agreements can be explored for the exchange of products and services. Kenya can export tea, coffee and other merchandise to Cuba, while it can acquire biotechnological, pharmacological and other types of products from the island.
He even proposed the idea that since Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, has a strategic location and serves as an important rail, air and port link on the African continent, it could host a center for the distribution of Cuban vaccines and other innovative medicines of its biotechnology industry.
The Kenyans - she continued - are very good athletes, especially in medium and long distances, while the Cubans excel in other sports such as boxing, wrestling, and baseball, "that is why there are solid reasons to expand sports cooperation," considered the ambassador
In the political environment, Mwenda suggested strengthening ties through strong diplomatic engagements to enhance collaboration on global issues, including sustainable development, human rights and international security.
In order to expand and elevate more relations, the ambassador estimated that high-level visits and diplomatic dialogue should be increased to further foster mutual understanding and explore areas of collaboration.
The Head of Mission assured that Kenya will always be at Cuba's side in its tireless fight for the just lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade that the United States government has imposed on it for more than 60 years. (Text and photo: PL)
