President William Ruto announced on Tuesday that Kenya is exploring a partnership agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to link Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan. This ambitious initiative aims to facilitate regional integration and bolster trade across borders.
The announcement came after President Ruto held discussions with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, in Abu Dhabi.
“As part of the plan, we have agreed to conduct a feasibility study over the extension of the SGR due to its capacity to foster regional integration and promote trade,” Ruto stated in a post on social media platform X.
The talks also engaged UAE Investment Minister Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, focusing on investments in Kenya’s Galana-Kulalu project, an initiative designed to enhance food security. This project, which carries a price tag of approximately $52.7 million, aims to harness Kenya’s agricultural potential and mitigate food shortages, showcasing the UAE’s commitment to partnering in sustainable development.
While attending the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit, Ruto’s discussions extended beyond transport and agriculture. State House revealed that the two nations signed a historic Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a milestone pact that promises to ease the entry of Kenyan goods into the UAE market. This agreement marks the first of its kind that the UAE has signed with a mainland African country, signaling a transformative step in trade and investment relations.
State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed lauded the CEPA, stating, “The agreement strengthens Kenya’s position as a gateway to East and Southern Africa and reaffirms the UAE’s role as a global logistics and financial hub connecting the Middle East, Asia, and beyond.”
As the dust settles on these significant developments, the potential benefits for both nations are immense. By connecting infrastructure and aligning economic goals, Kenya and the UAE are positioning themselves as key players in the regional economic landscape, paving the way for enhanced cooperation and mutual growth. The eyes of the world will be watching as this partnership unfolds, with implications that extend far beyond the borders of the two nations.
