Use the Browser BACK button to return to listings

Bangkok, October 29, 2004

President Mwai Kibaki and First Lady Lucy Kibaki poses for a photograph with the Thailand Prime Minister,Thaksin Shinawatra and Thai's First Lady Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra at Thai Koofah Building, Government House, Bangkok, Thailand.

Kibaki roots for Collaboration between Kenya and Thailand

President Mwai Kibaki today called for collaboration between Kenya and Thailand in promoting tourism in the two countries.

Speaking during a dinner party hosted in his honour by the Thai Prime Minister Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra, the President Kibaki said the co-operation between the two countries could greatly "should focus on training of personnel, exchange of educational visits by travel agents and joint tourism ventures".

Noting that accessing new markets and increasing the flow of foreign direct investments remains a major challenge to many developing countries, the President urged investors to invest in Kenya and benefit from the huge market the country offers as the gateway to East and Central Africa.

Said the President, "Kenya's strategic position in the region provides investors with access to not only the East African Community market, but also to the larger Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The COMESA free trade area has a population of about 400 million people. By investing in Kenya, investors have full access to this huge market".

The President further stressed the need for co-operation between the two countries in the area of information and telecommunications technology. The President noted that the two countries would benefit mutually from Thailand's great achievements in information and communications technology.

On bilateral relations, President Kibaki applauded the cordial relations between the two countries adding that bilateral ties have been boosted further by the three weekly direct flights from Nairobi to Bangkok by Kenya Airways. The President expressed optimism that the increase of the number of flights per week to Bangkok will add value to the two countries "friendship and business partnership". The President expressed the hope that Thailand will soon have a reciprocal arrangement to have the Thai national airline make direct flights to Nairobi.

The President commended Thailand for having produced the first Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Mr. Supachai., saying that "through him, Thailand will be in a better position to influence relevant World Trade Organization programmes to strengthen the trade institutions in the developing countries and promote equitable trade among nations".

The President pledged support for Thailand's request for support for the candidature of His Excellency Dr. Surakiart to the post of United Nations Secretary-General in the year 2006. The President added that " Kenya proposes support on reciprocal basis, for her candidate to the position of the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in June, 2005".

In his address, the Prime Minister commended President Kibaki for his commitment to development in Kenya as demonstrated by the economic and social policies being pursued by his government. He singled out the Kibera upgrading scheme, the anti-corruption campaign, civil service reforms and the war against HIVAIDs as commendable policies.

In underscoring the need to explore and put the potentials of the two countries to optimal use, the Prime Minister noted "with direct flights between Nairobi and Bangkok, distance will no longer be a hindrance for the two nations to reach out to each other in the spirit of partnership within the South-South co-operation".

In the area of trade, the Prime Minister said "Kenya's strategic position and the booming Mombasa seaport, and Thailand's rapid growth as the transport hub of Asia the two countries can serve as gateway and hub for each other in our respective regions". On HIV/AIDS, the Prime Minister stressed the need for the two governments to work together, saying that "Thailand had developed the anti-retroviral drug. He pledged his government's readiness to offer additional grants for Kenya's officials to attend training courses in Thailand in HIV/AIDS prevention and Information and Telecommunications Technology.

Present at the dinner party were First Lady Lucy Kibaki, cabinet ministers Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Professor Anyang Nyong'o, Raphael Tuju and Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi. Others were permanent secretaries Ambassador Esther Tolle, David Nalo and Patrick Nyoike. Also present were chief executives of leading parastatals and prominent Kenyan businesspersons.