PPS
President William Ruto has called on Russia to partner with Africa in building productive capacities across the continent’s economies to enable them to create greater value from their natural resources.
Delivering Kenya’s National Statement at the Third Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum at the Kremlin in Moscow on Thursday, President Ruto said Africa was ready to deepen its economic engagement with Russia.
“We welcome deeper cooperation with Russia in education, technical training, scientific research, digital technologies and responsible artificial intelligence,” he said.
The President also called for stronger cooperation in agricultural development, healthcare, pharmaceutical research and local vaccine manufacturing, emphasising the need to strengthen Africa’s capacity to meet its essential needs.
“The lessons of recent global health emergencies are clear: Africa must strengthen its capacity to produce essential medicines, develop medical technologies and protect the health of its people,” he said.
To support Africa’s development ambitions, President Ruto called for reforms to the international financial architecture to make it more inclusive, equitable and responsive to the needs and aspirations of African nations.
“We need a financial system that recognises Africa’s development potential, provides affordable long-term financing and mobilises the vast pools of global capital currently beyond the reach of developing economies,” he said.
President Ruto called for a mutually beneficial partnership between Africa and Russia, noting that the continent’s historical economic engagement with Western countries had often been exploitative, leaving African nations with only a fraction of the value generated from their resources.
“We now must become a continent that manufactures, innovates, adds value and competes in the global economy,” he said.
He emphasised that Africa’s industrialisation must also be environmentally sustainable, citing Kenya’s investments in renewable energy, particularly geothermal power, as evidence of the continent’s commitment to green development.
“Africa must not be asked to choose between protecting the planet and lifting its people out of poverty. We must achieve both, and the international community must work with us to make both possible,” he said.
President Ruto also acknowledged Russia’s longstanding historical ties with Africa, recalling the former Soviet Union’s support for liberation movements across the continent.
“Today, we have an opportunity to build on that foundation through a partnership anchored on sovereign equality, mutual benefit and shared prosperity,” President Ruto said.
Earlier, President Ruto toured the Smart City housing project on the outskirts of Moscow, which is spearheaded by Sberbank Group, Russia’s largest financial conglomerate.
The project, spread across more than 1,100 acres, comprises over 65,000 housing units and thousands of office spaces, alongside modern amenities supported by advanced technologies.
President Ruto welcomed the group’s readiness to partner with Kenya in harnessing artificial intelligence to improve the delivery of healthcare and education services.
He was accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui and other officials during his two-day visit to Russia.
