Kenyan President in Algeria to foster co-operation between the two countries

President Uhuru Kenyatta is in Algeria in a move that will see various bilateral agreements signed as well as cooperation in various sectors including oil and gas with the oil rich North African nation.

In an effort to increase partnership between the two nations Kenya has also opened an embassy in the Algerian capital Algiers and posted Ambassador Moi Lemoshira to promote diplomatic relations. Previously the Kenyan embassy in Cairo Egypt was responsible for Algeria.

According to a communication from State House Nairobi Kenya will be hoping to tap in from Algeria’s wide experience in oil and gas exploration, the knowledge and technology.

Algeria’s national oil corporation Sonatrach has also seen a lot of success and experience that can be shared with the national oil corporation of Kenya even as the latter prepares for oil production in Northern Kenya. Sonatrach is the largest Algerian and African company and the 11th largest oil consortium in the world.

President Kenyatta’s high level visit will also boost relations on strategic areas including trade and investment; education, science and technology; government to government and people to people interaction through exchange of visits.

While in Algiers, President Kenyatta will hold talks with his host, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, also meet the Prime Minister Mr.Abdelmalek Sellal and the Speaker of the People’s National Assembly Mr. Mohamed Larbi Ould Khelifa.

The meeting follows meetings between Algeria’s Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra and Kenyan Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Amina Mohamed who inked in Algiers two Algerian-Kenyan cooperation and consultation agreements in November last year.

According to OPEC Algeria has the 17th largest reserves of oil in the world, and the second largest in Africa, while it has the 9th largest reserves of natural gas.