Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
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India and Kenya are set to enhance their bilateral collaboration in space, focusing on expanding Africa’s space capabilities to address climate change and food security challenges.
A Brief History of India-Kenya Relations:
- Historically, India and the Swahili Coast (including modern-day Kenya, Tanzania, and parts of Mozambique) were connected by a well-established trade network before the arrival of Europeans.
- This trade network facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas, spreading Islam and Indian culture to the Swahili Coast.
- Arab and Persian traders played a significant role in this network, exchanging goods such as gold, ivory, and slaves for Indian textiles, spices, and luxury items.
- During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, both India and Kenya were under British colonial rule, sharing a history of resistance against colonial oppression.
- In 1948, before Kenya’s independence, India established the office of Commissioner for British East Africa residents in Nairobi.
- After Kenya gained independence in 1963, India upgraded the Commissioner’s office to a High Commission, officially enhancing diplomatic relations between the two countries.
- India also established an Assistant High Commission in Mombasa, Kenya’s second-largest city.
- The India-Kenya Trade Agreement, signed in 1981, accorded Most Favored Nation status to each country.
- The India-Kenya Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was established at the Ministerial level in 1983.
Development Cooperation and Capacity Building:
- India provides development assistance to Kenya through loans and credit.
- The two countries have collaborated in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and in consolidating economic cooperation in the post-COVID-19 era.
- According to the Kenya Investment Authority (Ken Invest), India is the second largest investor in Kenya.
- Annually, over 400 Kenyan nationals enroll in various training and scholarship programs under the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme.
