Kenya: The European Union has committed itself to continue provide its support for infrastructure projects at the Port of Mombasa, with the aim of enhancing its efficiency and encouraging its regional trade.
Reportedly, ambassador of EU to Kenya – Ms. Henriette Geiger made remarked when she met with Managing Director Captain William Ruto. During all that time, their discussion was majorly focused on partnership and development to foster economic growth and bolster trade.
Ambassador Geiger, underscored the plan introduced by EU to mobilize resources and fund initiatives that will later accelerate the economic advancement of Kenya.
Considering this, Managing Director of Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) – Captain William Ruto underscored the long existing cooperation with the EU and Trade Mark Africa (TMA) on various projects. He noted that EU is a key trading partner for Kenya and has remained the largest export market for the country.
However, MD Ruto also pointed out modernization efforts at the port, that includes acquiring advanced marine and cargo handling equipment. He further emphasized collaborating with the private sector on certain operations that has contributed to enhance the port efficiency.
The European Commission Director-General for International Partnerships in Africa – Mr. Hans Stausboll expressed his gratitude with the infrastructural development of the Kenya Ports Authority.
Notably, the Port of Mombasa is a gateway for East Africa and connects Kenya to important trade routes in both East and Central Africa region.
Earlier, few days ago, the Kenya Ports Authority’s strides in engineering and sustainable development that was lauded at the ongoing 6th Engineering Partnership Convention in Nairobi.
Principal Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy – Eng. John Tanui and his Environment and Climate Change counterpart – Dr. Festus Ng’eno upon visiting the KPA stand, expressed admiration for the Authority’s strategic projects, mainly at the Shimoni Fish Port.
Moreover, the pioneer facility aims to unlock the potential of Kenya’s Blue Economy by serving as the country’s first large scale fishing port, facilitating exports and value addition in the maritime sector.
They further commended and applauded KPA’s dedication to environmental sustainability through the Green Port Policy, and noted that such initiatives are crucial for aligning port operations with national climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
The officials also acknowledged the transformative impact of the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zones (SEZ) project. They noted that the SEZ will enhance agro-processing, promote rural and regional industrialization while fostering innovation and technological advancement across the country, etc.
Also, the convention has attracted engineers, researchers and industry leaders from around the world, providing them a dynamic platform for sharing and emerging trends, innovative research and practical applications to shape the future of engineering.