By Ebi Kesiena
Kenyan President William Ruto has called for greater cooperation between Africa and Saudi Arabia in the development and sustainable exploitation of clean energy.
According to Ruto, the combined hydrocarbon and green energy resources of Africa and Saudi Arabia hold enough promise to meet current and future global energy demands.
“If we work together, we can provide the world with effective solutions to the global climate crisis,” he said.
President Ruto noted this on Saturday during the Saudi-Africa Summit in Riyadh.
The inaugural Saudi-Africa summit aims to enhance political coordination, address regional security threats, promote economic transformation through research and the local development of new energy solutions, and boost investment cooperation.
Representing the continent, Ruto said Africa is keen on forging a stronger trade and investment partnership with Arab nations aimed at fostering regional and global stability.
He appealed to the nations to explore investment opportunities in the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement and make Kenya their gateway.
“This emerging market is hungry for development and abounds with attractive investment opportunities,” he added.
Ruto emphasised partnership in education, training and human resources to cultivate skilled workers and promote sustained productivity and competitiveness.
He proposed that Africa and Saudi Arabia work together to confront the contemporary security threats and outbreaks of conflict and war in neighbouring states.
“I see great potential for us to strengthen our complementarity in this sphere and institute a vast belt of peace, security, stability and prosperity covering the Middle East and Africa,” Ruto said.
Ruto met with Saudi Arabia’s Ministers for Energy and Finance Abdulaziz bin Salman and Mohammed Al-Jadaan on the sidelines of the summit.
