Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei to visit Russia, meet fertiliser producers

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei to visit Russia, meet fertiliser producers


Updated Sunday, August 18th 2013 at 10:30 GMT +3

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei.

By PSCU
Moscow, Russia: The Russian Government has pledged to support Kenya’s efforts towards securing agro-fertilizers in adequate quantities and at affordable cost.

Speaking when he met President Uhuru Kenyatta in Moscow on the sidelines of the 14th IAAF World Championships, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Kozak, said the Russian Government will assist Kenya to access fertilizer directly from Russian producers without going through middle men.
Towards this end, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister said he looked forward to the visit by the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Felix Koskei who is expected in Moscow, Russia, in a week’s time for further discussions in this regard.
The Kenyan Cabinet Secretary Koskei is expected to meet his Russian counterpart as well as the Russian Association of fertilizers producers.
The commitment from the Russian Government was in response to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s appeal for partnership with the Russian Government as well as investors in the production of fertilizer when he addressed the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation on Friday.
Kozak further said the Russian Government is ready to increase the number of Education scholarships in areas of specific interest to the Government of Kenya.
He hailed cooperation between the two countries in the area of education observing that over 1500 Kenyan students have graduated from Russian Universities.
On security, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister said the Russian security agencies will establish contacts with their Kenyan counterparts in support of Kenya’s efforts in dealing with terrorism.
In response to the desire of the Kenyan Government to initiate cooperation in sports with the Russian Government, Kozak said he will personally initiate consultations towards this end.
“As two sports power houses, our two countries can cooperate in a wide range of areas including the development of sports facilities and training,” said Kozak.
He hailed Kenya for her outstanding performance in field and track events saying the ongoing 14th IAAF World Championship had narrowed down to a competition between Kenya, Russia, USA and Jamaica largely relegating other countries to the level of spectators.


President Kenyatta expressed his satisfaction with the bilateral relations between Kenya and Russia adding that the two countries have continued to support each other at the multilateral level.
The President, however, noted that engagement between the two countries in the economic arena has not matched the levels enjoyed in the political and social spheres.


The President therefore underscored the need to enhance cooperation in trade and investments.
He called upon Russian investors to venture in the country saying there are lucrative investment opportunities in many sectors of the economy especially in agriculture, power generation and transmission, infrastructure development and tourism.
The Head of State extended an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Kenya.