Kenya, France in new partnership agreement

Written By:PMPS,    Posted: Thu, Apr 21, 2011

Prime Minister Raila Odinga is in France for the launch of the Paris-Nairobi Climate Initiative (file/PHOTO)

Kenya and France have signed a new partnership agreement for closer cooperation in areas of international security, climate change, economic partnership, development aid and education, cultural and scientific collaboration.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Mr Francois Fillon, the Prime Minister of France, signed the declaration for a strengthened France-Kenya partnership in Paris Wednesday at a ceremony held at Mr Fillon's offices in Paris.

The agreement envisages closer cooperation in the fight against international crime including piracy, terrorism, drug and human trafficking, corruption and money laundering.

Under the agreement, Kenya and France will hold regular high level meetings at least once every year, in either Paris or Nairobi.

The two countries also restated their commitments to the creation of a global environmental organization to be located in Nairobi.

Under the agreement, the two nations will exploit their strategic positions for mutual benefit with the leaders noting that while Kenya is a dynamic economy that occupies a strategic position in Africa, France has a critical position in the European Union and close ties with Africa.

The agreement further acknowledges that Kenya and France share a common aspiration to consolidate Africa's presence in the international arena and initiate discussions on global issues.

Mr Odinga is in Paris for the launch of the Paris-Nairobi Climate Initiative which seeks to accelerate access to clean energy for Africa and countries most vulnerable to climate change.

The Paris-Nairobi Initiative is meant to contribute to the ability of the vulnerable nations to secure fast-start funds to finance climate initiatives, develop sustainable electricity generation, transmission and distribution.

Kenya and France have drawn a White Paper on access to Sustainable Energy.

The Paper identifies energy and climate projects that can be prioritized for quick gains. These will include projects to be implemented through Public-Private Partnership ahead of the 17th United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Durban and the International Year for Sustainable Energy in 2012.

The Initiative will also identify a club of financial contributors that will coordinate efforts in the energy sector. The club is to be made up of all the donors that are keen on investing in clean energy.

The Paris-Nairobi Initiative on Clean energy will end with announcement of its resolutions on Friday.