President Muhammadu Buhari late yesterday in Nairobi called
for an intensification of intra-African trade and acceleration of the pace of
economic integration across the continent.
Speaking at a banquet in his honour at the conclusion of his
state visit to Kenya, President Buhari said that the expansion of trade
relations between Nigeria and Kenya in recent years should be replicated by all
other African countries to speed up the pace of economic development on the
continent.
"We now have Nigerian industrialists establishing
cement plants in Kenya while Nigerian telecommunications operators are learning
and adopting the Kenyan mobile banking model as a tool for financial inclusion
in rural Nigeria.
"We have Nigerian farmers coming to learn from
successful Kenyan farms while at the same time, we have many up and coming
Kenyan oil and gas businesses partnering with Nigerian oil companies.
"We have Nigerians drinking Kenyan coffee in their
homes and offices, while we have many Kenyans listening to Nigerian music and
watching Nollywood movies
"These developments point to a real integration on the
continent beyond formal diplomatic relationships. Greater intra-Africa trade
will ultimately result in the creation of millions of jobs within Africa for
Africans," President Buhari said.
The President expressed the hope that Nigeria and Kenya will
continue to build on the mutually-beneficial trade and economic relations
between them.
He called for the rapid implementation of all bilateral
agreements already signed by the two countries and the convening of their Joint
Commission for Cooperation.
"As our two governments move ever closer, our business
communities will also take full advantage of this momentum to increase trade
and economic activities.
"I feel confident that by the end of this visit, new
and solid bridges for movement of persons, goods and services would have been
constructed," President Buhari said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that both leaders agreed
to intensify bilateral cooperation on trade, investment and the fight against
corruption and terrorism.
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