Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo has commended the growing ties with Kenya, highlighting new agreements aimed at boosting investment, trade and cooperation.
Speaking during the Kenya-Mozambique agreements signing at State House in Nairobi on Thursday with his Kenyan counterpart, President Ruto, Chapo emphasized the role of public-private partnerships and student exchanges in driving development.
He also called for improved connectivity and deeper collaboration across sectors to strengthen bilateral relations and create opportunities for young people.
“The conference that for us served as an experience exchange so that us as both countries could continue promoting the potential of our countries and promoting investments for our countries,” he said.
He stressed that attracting capital was key to addressing unemployment and improving living standards.
“That is the only way we can attract capital for our people, employment for the young people, and also salaries for the population of Kenya and Mozambique, so that we can have food at the table of every Mozambican people and have better living conditions,” he added.
President Chapo noted that discussions during the conference reaffirmed the need for closer collaboration between governments and the private sector.
“The testimonies given by various investors at the conference clearly indicated that the government and the private sector are strategic partners, and we should consult one another to improve the business environment,” he said.
He outlined several priority sectors for cooperation, including culture, transportation, logistics, tourism and digital transformation.
“The conference was clear, and it was clear that the areas that we need to cooperate are the ones that you(President Ruto) also mentioned, culture, transportation, logistics, tourism and in the digital transformation,” he said.
The Mozambique leader also highlighted Kenya’s progress in innovation, pointing to the country’s smart city developments as a model for the continent.
“It was also good to visit the smart city, which is a wonderful for the future, not only from Kenya, but also from the African continent,” he noted.
On bilateral relations, Chapo revealed that the two countries have signed 20 legal instruments over the years, covering areas such as diplomacy, defence, security and migration.
“Mozambique and Kenya have already signed a total of 20 legal instruments during all these years, and they are being fully implemented with tangible results,” he said.
He also praised ongoing student exchange programmes, describing them as vital for building human capital.
“For us, this exchange of students is drafting the future for our countries and the future of our people,” he said.
According to President Chapo, Mozambique currently has around 65 students studying in Kenyan universities, alongside five cadets at the Kenyan Military Academy.
In return, Kenya has six students in Mozambique pursuing advanced studies.
In the transport sector, he highlighted improved mobility between the two countries, including mutual recognition of driving licences.
“A Kenyan person can go to Mozambique drive freely and the Mozambican can also come to Kenya and drive freely,” he said.
He described this as a reflection of the “friendship, brotherhood and existing relationship” between the two nations.
President Chapo also announced the signing of new agreements, including a memorandum of understanding on youth and sports, with plans to expand scholarships and talent development.##
“It is our intention to have scholarships for the young people in the sector of sports,” he said.
He praised Kenya’s global success in athletics, noting that discipline was central to that achievement.
“Discipline is the secret for success. And Kenyan athletes show that they have discipline in all the aspects to be successful,” he said.
Additional agreements were signed in prison and correctional services, as well as diplomatic training, research and capacity building.
“These three instruments will inject a greater dynamics into these respective sectors,” he said.
President Chapo also called for improved connectivity, including the restoration of direct flights between Nairobi and Maputo.
“We want to have the flight between Nairobi and Maputo that we had in the past,” he said.
He concluded by expressing confidence in the future of bilateral relations and extended an invitation to President William Samoei Ruto to visit Mozambique.
“We are returning to Mozambique with the feeling that the visit has raised the standards of our relations,” he said.
