𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟗𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

 National Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang'ula, has asked Egypt to rally behind the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); a transformative initiative aimed at establishing an integrated and open African market.

Speaking in his office when he hosted the Egyptian Ambassador to Kenya H.E Wael Nasreldin Attiya who had paid him a courtesy call today, Dr. Wetang’ula said that Egypt stands to play a pivotal role in the realization of AfCFTA's objectives.

"With Egypt, an esteemed member of the 'Big Four Brothers' within the continent, standing as a signatory to the AfCFTA, the aspirations of member nations rest upon its robust participation," emphasized the Speaker.

 "The AfCFTA stands as a paragon of economic progress for Africa. The success of this initiative promises to usher in an era of unparalleled economic advancement across the African continent, " he added.

Speaker Wetang'ula, a passionate advocate for enhanced intra-African trade and the fortification of regional and local value chains, championed the potential of the AfCFTA to facilitate seamless access for investors to an array of opportunities.

"The vast potential of free trade in Africa not only paves the way for investment, but it also acts as  a catalyst for the escalation of intra-Africa trade, while nurturing the development of regional and local value chains hitherto unexplored," intoned the Speaker.

The Speaker noted that Egypt has excelled in irrigation of desert areas noting that the same can be applied in Kenya through the Egypt-modelled techniques that will help in increasing food production and reclaiming arid and semi-arid areas in the country.

While addressing the critical issue of climate change mitigation, the Speaker advocated for the propagation of Egypt's successful afforestation initiatives and borehole installations within drought-prone regions. He told the Egypt’s envoy to revive the initiatives, amplifying the collective efforts of the Kenyan government to combat the dire repercussions of climate change.

On Parliamentary diplomacy, Speaker Wetang'ula and Ambassador Attiya deliberated on ways of fostering a collaborative Parliamentary Friendship Group uniting the legislative Houses of Kenya and Egypt. This alliance, he said would serve as a fertile ground for the exchange of strategic insights, enriching the parliamentary landscape of both nations.

"Once this mechanism is firmly established, and a comprehensive exchange itinerary is crafted, plans are afoot for a reciprocal visit by Kenyan parliamentarians to Egypt, slated for either November or January next year."

Amidst these high-level discussions, Ambassador Attiya lauded the profound bilateral rapport shared between Kenya and Egypt, urging the Kenyan Parliament to fortify these harmonious ties.

In a bid to fortify these diplomatic bonds, the Ambassador unveiled the forthcoming 7^th  Kenya-Egypt Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) event, scheduled to take place in Kenya.

Dr. Wetang’ula acknowledged that the conference will offer a great platform to consolidate burgeoning trade avenues between the two nations hence propelling economic prosperity and catalyzing the growth trajectory for both Kenya and Egypt.