NAIROBI, Kenya- Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei has lauded the move by national carrier Kenya Airways to launch a dedicated weekly cargo flight to Mayotte, calling it a significant step that will bolster Kenya’s exports to the island and deepen economic cooperation between the two regions.
Sing’Oei, in a statement, asserted that the move also saw Kenya discuss an array of bilateral interests with the French overseas territory, including enhanced port connectivity, technology, education, and tourism.
“The decision by Kenya Airways to introduce a dedicated cargo flight to Mayotte weekly will bolster our exports to the island,” he said.
“Equally, the ongoing discussion to enhance connectivity between Mombasa and Longoni Ports will further support this agenda.”
Additionally, Sing’Oei’s talks also explored cultural and educational collaborations.
Given the strong cultural similarities between Kenya’s coastal communities and the Kimaore culture in Mayotte, the introduction of Swahili language teaching in Mayotte schools was proposed as a way to foster deeper people-to-people ties.
Sing’Oei expressed gratitude to France’s Minister Thani and the French Embassy in Kenya for supporting the initiative, as well as to the Kenyan business delegation that accompanied him, including representatives from Kenya Airways and Naivas Supermarkets.
The new air and maritime links are expected to facilitate smoother trade logistics, encourage investment, and promote mutual growth between Kenya and Mayotte, while opening up fresh avenues for collaboration in education, tourism, and technology.
