Strong bonds between Kenya and Romania's Parliaments will foster greater collaboration between the two countries, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has said.
He noted that key areas of collaboration include Trade, Security, Education, and Engineering.
Others are Information Technology, Agriculture, Tourism, and Management of Emergency situations in the country.
Wetang'ula was speaking during a courtesy call on the Ambassador of Romania to Kenya, Dragos Viorel Tigau.
"We are committed to ensuring we connect Members of the two Houses with particular focus to the Committee on Defense and Foreign Relations to benchmark each other’s activities for the mutual benefits of the two countries," Wetangula said.
Wetang'ula acknowledged the visit terming it progressive as he said that he was ready to support any positive idea meant for strengthening the relations between the two countries.
The Speaker noted that Parliaments across the globe have a role in influencing policy for economic growth and development.
He echoed the sentiments of the Ambassador on the potential areas of collaboration while promising to ensure that matters of security are given priority.
Speaker Wetang’ula also pointed out on the need to protect the environment saying that Kenya was a heavy consumer of renewable energy.
“Green energy is highly utilized in Kenya at about 82%, this is growing and soon, we might be 100%,” he said.
He said that Kenya has undergone a very tough drought period and that a conversation on mitigating environmental degradation was important to the country.
The Speaker while nostalgically tracing his visit to Romania in 1978 as a student encouraged Romania and other countries in Europe to receive migrants.
Ambassador Tigau acknowledged that Kenya and Romania have enjoyed a cordial relationship leading to supporting each other at international forums.
This includes the United Nations Security Council where Romania supported Kenya’s bid for the Non-Permanent Seat of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2021-2022.
"There is a lot of interest between the two countries in Education, Trade, and other areas that we seek to partner and engage in. Currently, there are over 400 Kenyans who have applied for scholarships in various fields of study,” Ambassador Tigau said.
Ambassador Tigau who has been in the country for close to one and a half years noted that his office serves other countries.
They include Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi within the region saying that Kenya was a central hub for dialogue on sustainable development in the region.
He pointed out the need for Kenya to engage the European Union and identify potential areas of collaboration on security, and climate change among other global issues that need urgent attention.
The two leaders agreed on the need to review international migration legislation on migration and settlement of those moving from countries of origin in search of opportunities.
Kenya-Romania relations were established in 1968.
Romania has an Embassy in Nairobi that was established in 1974 while the Embassy of Kenya in Ankara is accredited to Romania.
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