President William Ruto said yesterday that a pact between Kenya and Germany might see Berlin open its doors to 250,000 Kenyans to work there to address the European nation's enormous labor needs.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany and President Ruto of Kenya were addressed during a press conference from the State House in Nairobi. According to the agreement, the European nation will hire more professionals, skilled workers, and semi-skilled Kenyans.

Nairobi wants Berlin to reconsider and relax immigration restrictions so Kenyans can work in Germany to make this possible. 

Additionally, they decided to create a framework for twin institutions to match chosen TVET colleges in Germany with Kenyan TVET colleges to facilitate Kenyan graduates moving to Germany after completing their studies.

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To start conversations, swiftly navigate the processes, and create an acceptable framework for exporting labor to Germany, we have decided to assemble a technical team from my office and the foreign affairs and labor ministries in both countries, Dr. Ruto stated.

The Head of State noted the close historical links between the two nations, which date back to 1963. President Ruto stated that Germany was the first to recognize "our newly-born nation" when it gained independence. That started a close connection that has gotten even closer with time. 

According to him, the fabric holding the relationships together is their shared ideals and cooperation in various endeavors. Germany pledged to help the nation's three TVET schools and centers of excellence grow to seven as part of a scheme that will benefit more Kenyan youngsters and reduce unemployment.

"We committed to establishing the teaching and learning of German at primary education institutions, TVETs, and other institutions of higher learning to close the language gap. 

Dr. Ruto said that Germany agreed to help us train teachers, adding that the two nations also concurred that the Kenyan and German TVET curricula should be as similar as possible.

Kenya is Germany's top trading partner in East Africa. The President, however, lamented that Germany benefited from the trade balance. He said that in 2021, Kenya's imports from Germany totaled $392 million, compared to just $130 million in exports.

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President Ruto stated, "I have requested the Chancellor to review tariff barriers and permit Kenyan products to enter Germany and the European market."
To conclude negotiations between the European Union and the East African Community, Kenya also pushed Germany to approve the Economic Partnership Agreement.

The two leaders both concurred that the globe must cooperate to lessen the effects of climate change. According to President Ruto, the conversation about this critical issue must go beyond "adaptation, loss, and damage. Indeed, they must incorporate climate investment, trading, and financing.

President Ruto announced that Nairobi would host the African Climate Action Summit in September to make sure Africa's voice on the climate crisis is heard clearly. He said this would allow the continent's leaders and specialists to strengthen Africa's position before COP28.

Chancellor Scholz pledged to provide the meeting with financial and technical support. Germany and Kenya also talked about regional security and peace. They both expressed concern about what they called "the unfortunate events in Sudan" and how they would affect the rest of the world.

President Ruto claimed that Kenya had consistently called for the war's end and a return to the road of peaceful resolution via discussion while pleading for foreign assistance.

The President stated, "We emphasized the need for international support for IGAD, Kenya, and the Africa Union in continuous efforts to resolve the conflict." "We both agreed that there must be an immediate and complete end to hostilities, access to humanitarian relief, and safety for people.

Regarding Ukraine, Kenya has often emphasized the UN Charter's guiding principles, which include respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty, and amicable dispute resolution.

In a proposal to improve and cement Kenya's relations with Germany, the two governments also decided to explore a new phase based on a strategic bilateral cooperation framework.