Share this
Slovak President Andrej Kiska holds talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House in Nairobi, February 13, 2017. /PSCU
Slovak President Andrej Kiska visits Uhuru for trade talks
Slovak President Andrej Kiska was honoured with the 21-gun salute on Monday following his arrival for a state visit to Kenya.
Kiska, who arrived on Sunday, became the first Slovakia Head of State to tour Kenya. He was received by President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House in Nairobi.
The Slovak leader began day two of his visit by laying a wreath at the mausoleum of Kenya’s founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
Kiska then went to State House for the formal reception. The national anthems of Kenya and Slovakia were played by the Kenya Defence Forces band, before the firing of 21 cannon shots. Kiska then inspected a guard of honour mounted by a detachment of the Kenya Army.
Uhuru and Kiska held talks which their delegations later joined. The agenda included getting Kenyan goods into the Slovakia market, a move aimed at bridging the balance of trade which is currently in favour of the Slovak Republic.
Uhuru is expected to cite Kenya’s central position in the East and Central Africa region as ideal for investors from the Slovak Republic.
The President will also make clear that Africa is working towards consolidating its economies into a large Continental Free Trade Area to provide more business opportunities.
The Slovak Republic is a high-income advanced economy with one of the fastest growth rates in the European Union. Its GDP was $138.277 billion while the GDP per capita stood at $25,525 in 2015 estimates.
Major industries in Slovakia include metal and metal products, paper and printing, food and beverages, electricity, gas, oil, nuclear fuel, transport vehicles, textiles, electrical and optical apparatus, rubber, and machinery.
Kenya is one of the three countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where Slovakia maintains diplomatic missions. Others are South Africa and Nigeria.
Source:PSCU