Lula seeks stronger economic ties

The recent visit by Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to Kenya, has reinforced the latter’s new foreign policy of closer trade ties with emerging markets in addition to its traditional partners.

Although President Lula only visited Kenya and Tanzania out of the five East African Community countries, it was clear that Brazil — that has lately taken keen interest in Africa — is eyeing the integration process and the opportunities it offers in trade and investment.

But Kenya is still disadvantaged by its trade imbalance with Brazil.

For instance in 2009, Kenya exported goods worth $947,730 to Brazil compared with the $58 million worth of imports from the country.

President Mwai Kibaki said that Kenya was especially keen on exploiting Brazilian advances in the area of bio-diesel technology, in an effort  to become more efficient in the management of the energy sector.

The Brazilian president on the other hand was keen on finding out existing opportunities and what Brazil can offer in terms of technological transfer and improvement of the environment.

The two resolved to  foster co-operation in the fields of bio-diesel technology, agricultural research and development, information and communication and aviation among others.

Kenya opened an embassy in Brazil in 2008 and trade ties have improved since then, with the national carrier Kenya Airways purchasing passenger jets made in the South American country.

The Kenyan embassy in Brazil serves the entire Latin America.

The visit by President Lula was a follow-up of two Joint Commission for Co-operation in Brasilia, Brazil in 2005 and Nairobi in August, 2008.

At the Second Kenya-Brazil Joint Commission for Co-operation, the two countries discussed various areas of mutual interest concerning economic, social and agricultural issues.

The two parties agreed to co-operate in enhancing their capacities in production of sugar and ethanol from sugarcane; teaching of Kiswahili and Portuguese in both countries, establishing direct flights between the two countries, and creating sports programmes.

The two delegations agreed to implement the so-called Second Half Programme, which shall begin as a pilot project targeting an initial group of 200 beneficiaries among children, adolescents and young adults.

This programme aims at supporting the social development of low-income citizens through the practice of sports, with special attention to football.

Under the programme, the Brazilian Ministry of Sports will provide technical assistance to promote sporting activities in the country.