President Uhuru Kenyatta chats with King Abdullah II of Jordan shortly
before the opening of the 3rd Arab-Africa Summit at the Bayan Palace in
Kuwait.
The President is seeking Arab support towards cost-effective exploration
and extraction of Kenya's resources. REBECCA NDUKU/DPPS
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
President Uhuru Kenyatta has asked Arab nations to support Kenya
with the knowledge and technology towards a cost-effective exploration
and extraction of the country’s resources.
“We are
already reaching out to various Arab states to encourage their private
investors to consider the opportunities in Kenya in the oil, natural gas
and energy sub-sectors,” the President said.
President
Kenyatta said the recently discovered reserves of fresh water, coal,
oil and natural gas would be exploited for the benefit of all Kenyans.
The
President was speaking during the 3rd Afro-Arab Summit in Kuwait. The
summit brings together over 65 Arab and African presidents, Kings and
heads of government.
He called on Arab nations to
strengthen the supply of crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas as energy
is a critical component of commodity prices and the cost of living.
The
President also said Kenya supports initiatives to reduce climate change
and restore the environment in order to boost agriculture, exploitation
of natural resources and generation of renewable energy.
“Arab-African
partnerships will be helpful in designing and implementing sustainable
strategies in this important area,” the President added.
President
Kenyatta said Kenya maintains a strong peace-building and peace-keeping
tradition and was deeply involved in diplomatic and political efforts
to end the civil war in the Sudan and midwife the Republic of South
Sudan.
“At the moment, we continue intensive military,
diplomatic and political efforts to ease Somalia into a post-conflict,
reconstruction-ready territory,” he added.
The
President told the Summit, whose theme is “Partners in Development and
Investment,” that his Government was committed to the war on
international crime and is grateful to the Arab and African nations
supporting the anti-terrorism effort.