President William Ruto has continued to secure deals for Kenya while meeting world leaders at the General Assembly of the United Nations.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 19, Ruto announced that he held bilateral talks with several leaders calling for reforms in the global financial structures including debt restructuring.
According to Ruto, such changes would empower nations to participate in climate action and development.
“By eradicating unjust discrimination, we will foster shared prosperity and pave the way for the achievement of our climate action objectives and a sustainable future,” Ruto stated.
The Head of State further reiterated that African countries had multiple unutilized resources yet still faced hunger and poverty because of underdevelopment.
“The account of Africa’s starvation amid plenty, is parallel to the account of Africa’s poverty in the midst of resource abundance and underdevelopment in the middle of plentiful potential,” added Ruto.
New Deals Secured
Additionally, Ruto held talks with the President of Albania Bajram Begay who expressed interest in opening an embassy in Kenya to allow for exploration of more investment opportunities.
The Head of State also noted that after talks with Slovakia’s President Zuzana Caputova, she committed to support Kenya’s E-mobility initiatives using the country’s advanced e-battery technologies.
Further, Ruto committed to partner with Slovakia to enhance fertilizer production in Kenya and increase cybersecurity capacity.
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Leaders Meeting with Ruto
Other global leaders who met with President William Ruto include the Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen who committed to supporting peace initiatives in the Horn of Africa.
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Others Include Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and Gambia Vice President Muhammad Jallow.
Further, Ruto met with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Former Mayor of New York City Mike Bloomberg, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Razan Al Mubarak.
He met with the CEO of Crescent Enterprises Badr Jafar, CEO of BlackRock Larry Fink, Zimbabwean businessman Strive Masiyiwa and Dr Mo Ibrahim.
Fair Debt terms
Ruto challenged the international community to mobilize and direct resources towards addressing impediments to Sustainable Development Goals.
He further called for reforms in the global financial architecture, especially debt restructuring and enhancement of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs).
This, he explained, will empower nations in the global south to meaningfully participate in both climate action and development.