Kenya and Egypt have reached an agreement on a free visa regime for ordinary passport holders in a bid to promote tourism, grow trade and support the economic free flow of people and goods as envisioned by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
The two countries agreed to start and finalize the discussion towards a 100pc free visa regime within six months by October 1, 2023.
Dr. Alfred Mutua, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, announced the agreement Tuesday after holding bilateral discussions in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart H.E Sameh Shoukry.
On visa-free entry, the two Ministers agreed to establish free visa entry for diplomatic and official passports of both countries in three weeks’ time, from April 1st of this year.
During their bilateral talks, the two agreed on ways to enhance the social, political and economic cooperation between the two countries with emphasis on immediate and sustainable benefits.
Other areas of cooperation include the export of Kenyan Tea, Coffee, Nuts, Meat, Wheat and Flower to Egypt, Fertilizer and Irrigation Programs – Dams, Boreholes, Rail, Road and Connectivity, Scholarships and Diaspora Matters, issues of the Nile, Green Energy, and reforming the financial sector.
“Kenya is a hub for regional development and Egyptian companies are welcome to Kenya to set up factories and business because their market will also be the East African Market,” said Dr.Mutua.
The two Ministers also agreed to hold the 7th Kenya-Egypt Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) within weeks, to solidify and expand trade deals between both countries for fast and effective benefits in several areas.
