NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 6 – Kenya and Brazil on Tuesday resolved to foster co-operation which will help Kenya enhance its bio-diesel production technology and the agricultural sector.
Speaking after holding discussions with visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at State House Nairobi, President Mwai Kibaki said Kenya was especially keen on exploring advances made by Brazil in the area of bio-diesel technology.
"Brazil is a world leader in this field and Kenya stands to gain as we seek ways of becoming more efficient in our management of the energy sector," he said.
Brazil, which is the world\’s leading ethanol exporter, observed that Kenya had adequate raw material to produce bio-fuel to meet local consumption and realise surplus for export.
"Brazil has the technology… we have years and years of expertise; Kenya has a lot of land and they will to produce the fuel to sell to the rich countries that need to blend at least 10 percent of ethanol in the gasoline of their cars," President Lula said.
He said that Brazil, could also contribute in technology transfer mainly in the agricultural sector and the successful story they have had with family farming and technical assistance plus credit lines that gave so much result in Brazil.
President Kibaki said the two countries share the belief that while governments can work together to achieve the desired enabling environment, business must come forward to ensure that increased trade and commercial engagement becomes the tool of achieving economic development.
The Brazilian leader said they hoped Kenya would act as an investment hub that Brazilian companies and entrepreneurs can use to seek business opportunities in the wider East African Community with a population of more than 125 million people.
President Kibaki said Kenya was also going to work with the Government and people of Brazil in the area of sports, noting that Brazil is hosting the next FIFA World Cup in 2014.
Said the President: “We have discussed ways Kenya can partner with Brazil to ensure that our country is adequately prepared to enable it feature in what I believe will be a great tournament in a country known for its sporting prowess.”
Mr Lula accepted President Kibaki`s request for Brazil to work with Kenya’s Harambee Stars in its preparations for the 2014 world cup qualifiers.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula and his Brazilian counterpart, Celso Amorim, signed five agreements to act as a framework for future investments and assistance.
The agreements include one that will allow Kenyan students join an Afro-Brazilian university to be constructed by the Brazilian government in its northeastern state of Ceara to train 5,000 African and 5,000 Brazilian students in various fields.
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