Ministerial Visit
News
12 August 2021
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Simon Coveney, recently concluded a three-day visit to Kenya and Somalia for a series of high-level political meetings designed to inform our work on the UN Security Council and build bilateral relations. The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss key regional challenges, in particular the situation in Tigray.
Minister Coveney also met key business, development and community partners; signed a Double Taxation Agreement and launched three development programmes in Kenya.
During the visit Minister Coveney met with his Excellency President Kenyatta to discuss regional issues and opportunities for Ireland and Kenya to work together, including trade, agriculture, and Young Scientist Kenya. The Minister also met with Ambassador Ukur Yatani Kanacho, CS of the Kenyan Treasury, to sign a Double Taxation Agreement, which will support two-way trade and investment between Ireland and Kenya.
Minister Coveney also flew to Somalia for a one day visit and met with the Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble; the Somali Minister for Defence Hassan Mohamed and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohamed Abdirizak. While in Mogadishu Minister Coveney also met senior EU and United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) officials, and held a meeting with Somali civil society activists.
Minister Coveney hosted a business lunch with Business Ireland Kenya, formally launching the latest version of the BIK Doing Business Guide and launched a number of development programmes which you can read more about in the articles below.
Minister Coveney also met with members of the Irish Community and unveiled a plaque dedicated to the late Joe O’Brien, who very sadly passed away earlier this year. The plaque will be placed at the Irish Embassy in loving memory of Joe.
You can read more about Minister Coveney’s visit to Kenya in the Op-Ed he wrote for the Irish Examiner here