The Federal Chancellor receives President Ruto of Kenya
Germany and Kenya wish to expand their cooperation in many areas, as well as to tap new fields of cooperation, said Federal Chancellor Scholz during a press conference on the occasion of President William Ruto’s visit to the Chancellery.
- Transcript of press conference
- Friday, 13 September 2024
The two states have drawn up a migration agreement to allow for easier recruitment of skilled workers as well as to facilitate repatriation of irregular immigrants.
Photo: Federal Government/Steffen Kugler
Transcript of the press conference in German only
Following his meeting with Kenya’s President William Samoei Ruto, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany and Kenya maintained excellent relations. He said that he was glad that the two states “cooperate intensively concerning green hydrogen as a future technology,” for example, and that closer cooperation in the area of migration was another important shared concern.
Scholz and Ruto were present when Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser and Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi, as well as Minister of State of the Federal Foreign Office, Katja Keul, signed a comprehensive Mobility and Migration Agreement. The agreement opens up new perspectives for people from Kenya, as it will enable skilled workers and young people to come to Germany to complete vocational training in the future. At the same time, the agreement also includes a return procedure for those who have come to Germany from Kenya but have no right to stay. “I believe that this is a very important agreement,” the Federal Chancellor said.
The most important points from the press conference:
- Climate and development partnership: Through the climate and development partnership, Germany has been supporting Kenya on its way towards using non-fossil energy sources since 2022. “Kenya’s strong commitment to climate action is convincing for other African countries, too,” said Scholz.
- Partnership agreement with the EU: The agreement improves access for Kenyan companies to the European market, integrating them into fair and sustainable supply chains.
- International cooperation: The Federal Chancellor called for greater representation of Africa in international institutions. He said that African-led initiatives promoting peace and stability in Africa would gain further importance in future. Kenya already played an important role in promoting stability in the Horn of Africa, Scholz pointed out.
President Ruto came to Berlin to attend the Federal President’s citizens’ fair. Kenya is the first non-European state to be chosen as the fair’s annual guest country.