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Gachagua inks Sh11.5bn EU deal during Belgium trip

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Global Gateway Forum 2023 during the signing of a Sh11.5bn grant from the EU on October 25, 2023. (Photo: DPCS)

By Dennis Tarus | Thursday, October 26, 2023

The grant is set to support priority areas of green transition on environmental sustainability and digital inclusion, democratic governance as well as peace and stability.

The European Union has granted Kenya €72 million (Sh11.4 billion) to support key sectors of the economy.

The deal signed by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday is set to support priority areas of green transition on environmental sustainability and digital inclusion, democratic governance as well as peace and stability.

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The deal is under the Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instruments.

"On behalf of President William Ruto and the people of Kenya, we are immensely grateful to the European Union for being true to their commitment to financial support to our development Agenda," Gachagua said.

The DP on Monday left the country for Belgium on a three-day official visit where he is representing President Ruto at the Global Gateway Forum hosted by the European Commission in Brussels.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Global Gateway Forum 2023 during the signing of a Sh11.5bn grant from the European Union on October 25, 2023. (Photo: DPCS)

The Forum aims to strengthen relations between the EU and its partners, including Kenya, in key sectors such as digital innovation, green energy, transport, healthcare, and education.

Other engagements

On Wednesday, Gachagua held discussions with the World Trade Organisation Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the sidelines of the Gateway Forum which centred on opportunities of sustainably exploiting the Blue Economy.

The DP also held talks with the Secretary General of COPA COGECA (the united voice of farmers and agri-cooperatives in the EU representing 22 million farmers), Pekka Pesonen on areas of collaboration in firming the Cooperatives in Kenya.

"Their experience is vast and working with the biggest cooperative movement for farmers in Europe will give more impetus to the much-needed sustainable structural adjustments to our laws, policies and administrative procedures," the DP said.

Gachagua will also extend his travel to Germany for other engagements on coffee, climate change, and renewable energy, among others.

The DP will also meet the Kenyan diaspora in Germany at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich as part of his European trip.