Address by Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman at the Business Seminar in Kenya
Nairobi, September 4, 2009
Israeli Ambassador to Kenya Jacob Keidar: Good afternoon. Honorable ministers and distinguished guests - I didn’t have a dream, I knew it would happen. Today we have here with us not only the Honorable Deputy Prime Minister of Israel and Minister of Foreign Affairs, but he brought with him a very big group, a very big business delegation, which represents much of the best of Israeli enterprises and industry, from agriculture to water, from telecommunications to security, infrastructures, energy, and many others. Joining us are also many Israeli businessmen in Kenya, who have been working here for many, many years and acting as a bridge – or should I say as the real ambassadors – between our two countries, for many, many years.
We have here some of the most distinguished people in the Kenyan business community here in the hall with us, and we are very grateful to you for coming and honoring us with your presence. And, of course, I would also like to welcome the official Israeli delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Export Institute, the Ministry of Defense and others, and I cannot finish without mentioning the press. Welcome very much. I don’t want to take too much time and I would like to ask the honorable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Avigdor Liberman, to present his address. Thank you.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman: Honorable Ministers, Members of Parliament and distinguished guests. I am very pleased to address this Kenya-Israel business forum and to express my earnest hopes that the close and friendly relations that exist between our two countries will be promoted further through this forum. Our ties with Kenya and Africa are based on shared values and mutual respect. Indeed, both the Jewish people and the people of Africa have suffered from foreign rule, racism and exploitation.
Israel, Kenya and the countries of Africa believe in striving for a better world – one in which each human being enjoys dignity and the fruits of life without distinction between languages, religions, genders or nationalities. Kenya and Israel share a long history of close friendship, which has been demonstrated time and time again. In the early days after the independence of Kenya, Israel assisted in the establishment of the Kenyan National Youth Service and in the promotion of the agricultural sector. Since then, many thousands of Kenyan professionals from the centers of agriculture and health, local authorities, development, education and other spheres have been trained by MASHAV, Israel’s center for international cooperation.
Just this year MASHAV has conducted more than thirteen different courses in Israel and in Kenya and we have plans for many more training activities for the next year. Rescue teams from our two nations joined hands to assist those trapped in the ruins of the American embassy after the terrorist attack eleven years ago, and when a building collapsed in Nairobi in January 2006. We are currently engaged in ongoing collaboration in the establishment of a Kenya search and rescue unit in the armed forces.
Our bilateral cooperation covers a vast range of subjects – culture, trade, agriculture, infrastructure, construction, health, telecommunication, and security. We put great emphasis on further promoting these fields of joint activities and pursuing new ventures. In this regard it is worthwhile mentioning that the trade volume between our two countries has more than doubled between the years 2006 and 2007. The current trade volume is more than $155 million.
The business delegation members from Israel, who are here with us today, represent some of the major Israeli water, agriculture, energy and defense related industries. We hope that their visit will serve to further enhance the already close trade and economic collaboration with Kenya. I would like to mention the International Agricultural Exhibition, Agritech, which took place in Israel in May 2009. Delegations from the Kenyan government headed by the Ministers of Agriculture and Water and Irrigation visited Agritech, as did delegations from the private sector.
In light of Kenya’s urgent need to find solutions for its water and food crisis, Israel has a lot to offer in terms of expertise, innovations and products. I warmly urge you to take advantage of the presence of Israeli companies that deal with those issues and engage in business cooperation with them for the benefit of both countries. I would also like to mention that in November 2009 Israel will host the International Water Technologies and Environmental Control Exhibition, WATEC, and I urge you to register.
I have no doubt that the agreement which was signed today between our two governments on water cooperation will be a great tool in our joint efforts for fighting droughts and famine, especially in the arid and semi-arid areas in Kenya. Before I conclude, I would like to thank all of you for your efforts in enhancing the excellent relations between our two nations. Together, Israel and Kenya in partnership can help make this world a better place. It is our future and we must strive forward together. I am confident that we shall. Thank you.