Work On New Embassy Buildings Set To Commence

The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Thuita Mwangi and H.E (Mrs.) Mishi M Mwatsahu, High Commissioner to Islamabad, poses for a group photo after the signing ceremony

PS Thuita Mwangi and Mr. Usman Khan of Impact Design Studio sign the Consultancy contract on 29th February, 2008
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On February 29, 2008, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Thuita Mwangi signed Consultancy and Construction contracts with Impact Design Studio and Consol Construction of Pakistan. Present at the signing ceremony was the High Commissioner to Pakistan H. E Mrs. Mishi M Mwatsahu.

The contract is for the supervision and construction of the Kenya High Commission Chancery and Residence in Islamabad.

Work commences immediately and would be completed in 18 months.

During the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary congratulated the companies upon winning the contract, adding that this marks yet another milestone in the attainment of set goals by the government of acquiring her assets abroad as a measure of reducing costs.

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Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nairobi

MINISTRY TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION AND CONSULTATIONS WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN

1. Consultations between Foreign Ministries of Kenya and Pakistan

The Permanent Secretary visited to Pakistan on official visit from 9th to 12th June 2007 during which he held very fruitful discussions with senior officials of the Foreign Ministry. The Permanent Secretary held bilateral consultations with the Pakistani Foreign Secretary H.E. Ambassador Riaz Mohammad Khan to review the status of the relations between the two countries and to chart the way forward. During the consultations, the two sides appreciated the existing historical relations founded on strong common cultural heritage and bilateral ties.
The two sides held detailed discussions on key areas of mutual interests including the need to increase trade volumes in key trade products (rice and tea) and called for diversification of items of trade.

On the way forward, the two Foreign Secretaries agreed on the need to the further strengthen the existing political relations between the two countries by establishing a framework for consultations between the two Ministries. Towards this end, it was agreed that the two governments should consider a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed by the Foreign Ministers to institutionalise closer consultations. They further expressed mutual commitment of the two Ministries to hold the next Kenya -Pakistan Joint Ministerial Commission meeting as scheduled in the last quarter of this year. It was proposed that the JMC should coincide with the proposed visit to Kenya by the Pakistani Foreign Minister. The two sides also endorsed the need for enhancing bilateral relations through government to government visits at the highest level.
In his remarks during the bilateral consultations, the Permanent Secretary appreciated the decision of the Pakistani government to offer three annual scholarships for Kenyan students in various fields. He, however, requested the Pakistani government to increase the scholarships particularly in technical areas such as engineering and IT, which are critical to Kenya’s development initiative.
The bilateral consultations also revealed the need for the two countries to establish mechanisms for exchange of information on issues on mutual interests in galvanizing international governance, rule of law and measures to counter international crime.
The Pakistani Foreign Secretary expressed appreciation of his government for Kenya’s assistance in improving the grading system for broken rice as a means to upgrade the quality of Pakistani rice exports. He further urged Kenya to consider review of the Visa Application regulations for Pakistani general business persons who carry recommendations from the relevant government authorities. The Permanent Secretary briefed on the reform initiatives the Kenya government is implementing to ensure effective management of visa applications to encourage foreign businesspersons to visit Kenya.
The Permanent Secretary also paid a courtesy call on Mr. Syed Asif Shah, Secretary of Commerce of Pakistan.

2. Visit to the Foreign Service Institute, Islamabad
While in Islamabad, the Permanent Secretary visited the Foreign Service Institute of Pakistan during which he held discussions with Ms. Fauzia Nasreen, Director General of the Institute. While at the Institute, the Permanent Secretary was briefed on the management, operations and courses curriculum designed for the various cadres of Ministry’s Staff.

Following detailed discussions, it was agreed on the need for Kenya and Pakistan to consider establishing formal relations between the FSI of Pakistan and the newly launched Foreign Service Institute of Kenya.

The Permanent Secretary expressed the desire of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya to cooperate with the FSI of Pakistan in key areas such as curriculum development and training of Foreign Service Officers.

3. Visit to the Official Residence and Chancery

As part of his official programme in Islamabad, the Permanent Secretary visited the High Commissioner’s Residence where he had a breakfast meeting with Staff before holding discussions with the Staff at the Chancery. There are also plans to consider construction of Staff apartments in line with the Ministry’s new strategy in favour property acquisition rather than renting of offices and residences.

The Permanent Secretary also toured the new designated plot acquired by the government for construction of the new Chancery and Official residence where he planted a tree to commemorate his visit.

© Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2006 All rights reserved

PS Thuita Mwangi's Wirking visit in Pakistan

President Kibaki opens ambassadors' conference, asks them to attract investments to the country

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President Mwai Kibaki has asked Kenyan Ambassadors and High Commissioners to develop strategies to market Kenya as a competitive and attractive destination with excellent opportunities and facilities for foreign investors.
Noting that the envoys should promote the country's economic and trade interests, President Kibaki said he expected every mission to apply the performance contracting procedures with clear targets for results.
Said the President, "I expect all our missions to project a positive image and perception of Kenya by giving correct information about the country and its achievements in your regular interactions with governments, media, public and other interested parties in the countries of your accreditation."
President Kibaki was addressing the Ambassadors and High Commissioners when he opened their 14th. conference at the Windsor golf and country club, Nairobi.
The President emphasized that Kenyan missions abroad should change the way they work and be more aggressive in marketing Kenya's economic interests, influencing regional and international affairs and in promoting the country's image abroad.
The Head of State revealed that the government intends to invest 500 billion shillings in flagship projects covering six key sectors that are crucial to raising economic growth rate progressively towards the target of 10 percent per year by twenty twelve.
He said the sectors included tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale and retail, financial services and business process outsourcing.
Noting that the investments would begin later this year, President Kibaki said they will cover infrastructure, training and deployment of highly skilled young professionals, irrigation, new seeds and livestock breeds and strengthening of public institutions to deliver the required levels of service.
"The six sectors will offer attractive investment opportunities for international renowned hotel and resort chains, agribusiness, supermarket chains, financial services firms and support of ICT and business processing services from the countries where many of you are accredited," he added.
The President went on to say that the government had developed an ambitious roadmap for economic and social development to the year twenty thirty anchored on three pillars, the economic pillar, the social pillar and the political pillar.
He explained that the economic pillar aims to raise Kenya's growth rate from 6 to 10 percent and maintain it there for twenty years, the social pillar aims at developing a just and cohesive society, while the political pillar is to entrench the practice of issue based, accountable and democratic governance in the country.
President Kibaki pointed out that when the government came into power four and half years ago, it promised to empower Kenyans socially, economically and politically, addingvernment has turned around the economy, providing the country with four years of consistently improving economic performance.
Noting that this was the longest period of sustained economic performance that Kenya has enjoyed in the last three decades, President Kibaki recalled that it began with 2.9 percent in 2003, 5.1 percent in 2004,5.7 percent in 2005 and over 6 percent in 2006.
He observed that economic recovery strategy also recognized the need to emphasize economic diplomacy as a means of securing more economic opportunities as such as markets access abroad and foreign direct investment and expressed satisfaction that the strategy has served the country well with tremendous expansion in regional and international trade.
The President said local communities had been empowered to have a greater say in their development through devolved funds such as the Constituency Development Fund, the local authority transfer fund and other socially oriented funds covering HIV/AIDS, roads and education bursaries where 70 million shillings are disbursed per constituency annually.
"Quality of life in many of our communities continues to show steady improvement. My government has tripled the amount of resources being invested in water development programmes such as building of boreholes, dams and water supply schemes throughout the country, he said.
As a result of these efforts, he added, the face of Kenya has been changed with poverty levels falling by 10 percent between 2001 and 2006 from 56 percent to 46 percent currently.
Said he, "consequently, over 2 million people who were facing absolute poverty are now enjoying a better life. More importantly we have restored confidence and optimism to the average Kenyan."
On the social front, he noted the number of schoolchildren had increased by more than 1.5 million to 7.8 million through free primary education, while the country had just over 1 million children in secondary schools with primary to secondary school transition rate rising to over 60 percent.
He further pointed out that public health institutions now provided free treatment and drugs for all children under five years of age, free drugs for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria with affordable outpatient care at dispensaries and health centers.
President Kibaki said the government now has the necessary confidence and credibility from these achievements to undertake the task of developing a long-term vision that will build on the successes and lessons learned from the economic recovery strategy.
He told the envoys to keep in mind the priorities and imperatives driving Kenya's foreign policy adding for instance that Kenya would continue to play a leading role in the East African Community, the Inter-governmental Authority on Development, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the Great Lakes Region.
"In particular, Kenya would remain committed to the attainment and consolidation of peace, security and stability in Somalia and Southern Sudan," he added.
On the international arena, President Kibaki aid Kenya will be an influential member of African and International bodies adding the country will develop and maintain bilateral relations with nations of strategic importance to its interests in Africa, Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.
Also present were the Minister for Foreign Affairs Raphael Tuju, assistant Ministers Moses Wetangula and Kembi Gitura and Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi.

Exhibition sheds light on African culture

ISLAMABAD, March 9: Africa is little known to most Pakistanis and its culture even less. But the African arts and craft exhibition on Friday provided an opportunity to the residents of the capital to see the richness of the continent’s culture.Be it clarity of form and detail, complexity of composition, balance and symmetry, African artists place high value on fine workmanship and mastery of their medium.
Organised by Nageen Rehman, the exhibition represents the rich African tribal cultures, bringing together some of the most amazing African arts and craft like sculptures, masks, drums, soapstone carvings, carved chairs, carved trees, sisal bags, sandals and other products.“We bring to you art and craft from the beautiful African continent,” said Ms Nageen.Among the exotic highlights were a range of handmade African jewellery made of bullhorns, shells and metal, bangles made by Masai women, abstract art pieces expressively carved by African Shona artists in beautiful natural soapstone and walking sticks uniquely carved out of rosewood depicting wildlife and the Masai culture of Kenya.African art which has found expression in a range of media is also presented through beautiful paintings, noted for their strong sense of colour and the black and white fascinating impressions of contemporary and well-known artist Heidi Lange.“Style is worth dying for,” said a visitor, while another thought, “African art and design had so much aesthetic appeal”.Sculptures of ebony and rosewood, carved out from one piece of wood using age-old carving techniques passed down by the Akamba craftsmen from generation to generation can also be found in the assortment of creative goodies.Wall hangings and wood carvings of various wild animals like hippopotamus, rhinoceros and giraffes, masks, fabrics, baskets and sandals were also exhibited.Mesmerised by the array of African artistic creativity, the Kenyan high commissioner, Mishi Masika Mwatsahu, said Nageen had made Kenya proud.“It feels like a special Kenya Day.

We feel honoured for giving a special thought to Kenya,” the high commissioner said.Africa had been an ignored part of Pakistan’s foreign policy, said Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Secretary-General and Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Mushahid Hussain Syed.The PML secretary-general, who was buying a Cheetah made of highly polished wood for his 18-year-old son, said: “I have been following Africa closely. It is a fascinating continent and our relations need to be enhanced.”Making the best of the occasion, Mr Syed also presented the Kenyan high commissioner a report titled ‘Pak-Africa Relations’ which looked into opportunities to increase friendship between Pakistan and the African countries.The exhibition, which opened to public at the Sugi Duty Free Shop, will continue till March 24.

By Jamal Shahid
Source; DAWN (internet edition)
March 10,2007

Kenya seeks help in farm sector

KARACHI, Feb 8: Kenya is keen to get assistance from Pakistan in research and technology and would like to benefit from its vast experience in agriculture, particularly irrigation system, to enhance its farm production.
This was stated by Peter Kyalo Kaindi, assistant minister and leader of the 14- member Kenyan delegation, at a luncheon meeting, organised by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), here on Thursday.

Like Pakistan, he said Kenya’s mainstay is agriculture, and it would like to benefit from Pakistan’s experience and know-how and would allow duty-free import of all categories of plants and machinery related to agriculture and irrigation development.
“There is conscious policy change to look towards East, and Pakistan has been selected to be one of the countries from where Kenya can benefit a lot,” he maintained.
He further said that countries like Pakistan are more flexible and open and carry a lot of consideration for other nations.
Unlike his last visit, the minister said first they visited Islamabad and met a number of ministers, including commerce, investment and agriculture, to boost bilateral trade relations between Pakistan and Kenya.

He said Kenya would welcome assistance from Pakistan in irrigation technology to cultivate its vast barren land.Mrs Mishi Masika Mwatsahu, the high commissioner of Kenya, said Kenya would like to enhance its bilateral trade and would also look to benefit in such areas where Pakistan is well advanced and has developed required know-how.
She stressed the need for having greater trade cooperation between developing nations for the mutual benefit of poor masses.

The Kenyan delegation also comprised chairman Tea Board of Kenya, Dunstan M Nagumo, and its managing director Sicily K Kariuki.
Pakistan is the largest tea importer from Kenya and imported over 33 per cent of its total tea exports.Abdul Aziz Maniya, chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), talking to newsmen said the issue of quality and standardisation of rice had been resolved as both the sides have agreed to accommodate each others’ standards.He said Kenya would continue to accept Quality Review Committee (QRC) inspection up to March 15, which would help clear all such consignments which are already on way to Nairobi.
Director-General Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) Abdul Ghaffar Soomro said that there was a difference of opinion in the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KBS) and those of PSQCA.

However, it had been agreed that the KBS which had only three grades for rice would adopt 1 to 6 quality standards of the PSQCA for import of rice from Pakistan.
He further stated that presently the PSQCA had 1 to 9 grades for rice which are internationally registered, but the KBS had reduced the grades to three and in order to sort out the problem, both the sides have agreed to follow 1 to 6 grades of the PSQCA.
However, he said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be signed between the two countries for certification of rice and tea as laid down by the WTO conditions.
Mr Soomro said under the WTO conditions, it was necessary to certify the quality and standard of a product entering the country, therefore, lab test and certification would be done by the PSQCA once both the countries enter into MoU.
However, chairman, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan said that the QRC would inspect rice meant for export to Kenya, but from time to time the PSQCA would be monitoring the working of the QRC.
News.pakistway.com

Pakistan, Kenya to collaborate in agriculture

ISLAMABAD - Kipruto Arab Kirwa, Minister of Agriculture Kenya, currently on visit to Pakistan to explore cooperation in agriculture and trade called on the Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock here at the National Agricultural Research Centre, along with 25-member delegation, says a Press release issued here on Wednesday.At this occasion Mishi Masika Mwatsahu, Federal Secretary, Food, Agriculture Livestock Muhammad Ismail Qureshi, Chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Dr M. E. Tusneem, were also present.

The Kenyan Agriculture Minister said that Kenya is interested to develop their agriculture and need assistance from Pakistan and he also offer assistance for tea production in Pakistan. Both the ministers discussed bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture. While talking to the Kenyan Minister, Bosan said that Pakistan would extend all possible assistance for development of agriculture sector of Kenya and would also impart training to Kenyan farmers.Earlier, Dr Muhammad Ehsan Tasneem, Chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) briefed the Kenyan delegation about the mandate of the PARC and various activities being carried out by the PARC. The delegation took keen interest in the briefing. Later the delegation visited PGRI, Grain Quality Testing Laboratories. The Kenyan Minister was much impressed with the working of the Pakistan scientists.