NAIROBI, Kenya- President William Ruto has arrived in Kazakhstan for a two-day State Visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Kenya and the Central Asian nation.
In a statement issued after landing in the Kazakh capital of Astana, President Ruto said Kenya was keen on elevating its relationship with Kazakhstan through expanded trade, investment and strategic partnerships.
“Kenya and Kazakhstan have been planting seeds of friendship for over a decade through deliberate engagements. It is time to take these cordial relations to the next level,” Ruto said.
The President noted that trade relations between the two countries have continued to grow, particularly in tea, flowers, fertiliser and logistics, boosted by increasing connectivity between Nairobi and Astana as well as links to other countries in Central Asia.
The visit is expected to focus on unlocking new areas of cooperation including finance, information and communication technology, tourism, energy and educational exchange programmes.
“We are committed to building on this foundation by exploring new opportunities in finance, ICT, tourism, energy, and exchange programmes,” Ruto said.
According to the President, the broader objective of the engagements is to create jobs for Kenyan youth, facilitate skills transfer and open up new export markets for Kenyan products.
Kenya has in recent years intensified efforts to deepen diplomatic and trade relations beyond traditional Western and regional partners, with the Kenya Kwanza administration increasingly focusing on Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe in its economic diplomacy strategy.
Kazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia, has emerged as an important player in global energy, logistics and industrial production, making it a strategic partner for Kenya’s expanding international trade ambitions.
President Ruto is expected to hold bilateral talks with senior Kazakh leaders and oversee discussions on trade agreements and investment opportunities during the visit.
