MFA Press Statement: Visit of Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed to Kenya, 4-8 December 2010

Senior Minister of State Zainul Abidin Rasheed visited the Republic of Kenya from 4 to 8 December 2010. He was accompanied by Singapore Non-Resident High Commissioner to Kenya and Rwanda, Mr Yatiman Yusof and MFA officials. This visit was in conjunction with a business mission spearheaded by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF)'s Africa Business Group (AfBG).

During the visit, SMS Zainul called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, son of Kenya's founding President, Jomo Kenyatta, for whom Nairobi airport is named after. They had a lively discussion on issues of mutual interest as well as regional trends in Asia and Africa. Both also explored ways to get several projects Singapore and Kenya have identified for development cooperation off the ground.

SMS Zainul also called on Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Internal Security, Prof George Kinuthia Saitoti; Minister of Trade, Chirau Ali Mwakwere; Minister of Housing, Peter Soita Shitanda; Minister of Transport, Amos Kimunya; and Assistant Minister for Information and Communications, Major (Rtd) Dhadho Godhana. During the calls, SMS Zainul and the Ministers exchanged views on political and economic developments in Kenya as well as in the East African Community, a regional grouping which Kenya is part of. They discussed how the scope of bilateral cooperation between Singapore and Kenya could be deepened and expanded.

Earlier, SMS Zainul hosted a dinner for the business delegation, led by Chairman of the AfBG Shabbir Hassanbhai, and senior Kenyan officials. He attended briefings on Kenya's Vision 2030, including investment opportunities. He also had briefings on the Aga Khan Development Network in East Africa and visited the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi.

SMS Zainul and the business delegation proceeded from Kenya to Rwanda, where SMS Zainul will remain till 12 December 2010 to meet senior Rwandan ministers and officials.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
9 DECEMBER 2010