News: The Straits Times -  19 January 2010


Kenyan PM proposes group FTA with S'pore
By Rachel Chang


(Picture: Mr Raila Odinga, the Prime Minister of Kenya, called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana yesterday as part of his first official visit to Singapore. Two agreements were signed, covering air services and infrastructure development. - ST Photo)


THE Prime Minister of Kenya, Mr Raila Odinga, has proposed a free trade agreement between Singapore and a grouping of five East African countries.

He floated the idea to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during a call at the Istana yesterday, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Lee welcomed the proposal, added the ministry statement.

The five countries are Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda, members of a regional inter-governmental organisation known as the East African Community.

Mr Odinga arrived here on Sunday for a five-day official visit, his first to Singapore.

Yesterday, links between the two countries received a boost with the signing of two agreements.

An air services agreement, signed by their respective transport ministers, will give airlines of Singapore and Kenya the flexibility to operate flights between and beyond both countries.

There will, however, be some restrictions if a Singapore carrier wanted to operate passenger flights between Kenya and selected third countries.

Singapore's Transport Minister Raymond Lim said the agreement 'underscores the commitment of both countries to cooperation on civil aviation and the liberalisation of air services'.

At present, SIA Cargo has a thrice-weekly air freight service operating to and beyond Kenya.

The other agreement is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that allows Kenya's government to tap Singapore's expertise in infrastructure development.

The Singapore Cooperation Enterprise, a government agency that responds to foreign requests for technical aid, said in a

statement that it will help Kenya develop public housing, a mass rapid transit system and special economic zones.

Its chief executive officer Alphonsus Chia, who signed the MOU, expressed the hope that it 'will lead to new opportunities for our private sector as well'.

The signing of the agreements was witnessed by both Prime Ministers.

Mr Odinga also called on President SR Nathan and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong yesterday and visited the HDB, SMRT Corporation and Changi Airport Group.

He will also visit other agencies such as the Economic Development Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority before leaving on Thursday.

- end of ST article