NAIROBI: Seeking to bolster their ties, India and Kenya today decided to deepen and expand cooperation in a wide range of areas as they signed seven pacts, including in the field of defence and security and avoidance of double taxation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after his talks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta here, also announced extension of concessional Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 44.95 million to the African nation to help it in development of small and medium enterprises and textiles.

India will also build a cancer hospital in Kenya to provide quality and affordable healthcare.

“The multifaceted development partnership is a key pillar of our bilateral relationship,” PM Modi said at a joint media interaction with Kenyatta after the talks.

He said Kenyatta and he had “agreed that terrorism and radicalisation is a common challenge for our two countries, the region and the whole world. We have agreed to deepen our security partnership including in fields of cyber security, combating drugs & narcotics and human trafficking.”

The MoU on Defence Cooperation signed will entail staff exchanges, expertise sharing, training, cooperation in hydrography and equipment supply.

Modi said the two countries have shared common interest in the security, including in maritime security, since they are connected by the Indian Ocean.

“Closer cooperation in field of maritime security occupies an important place in our defence and security engagement,” he said.

The Prime Minister said India stands ready to share its development experiences and expertise to assist in Kenya’s development objectives.

Announcing that India has will fully finance a cancer hospital in Kenya, he said it will not only benefit the Kenyan society with quality and affordable healthcare but also help India become a regional medical hub.

Kenyatta expressed gratitude to India for the LOC – USD 29.95 million for upgrading of a textile factory and USD 15 million for SMEs – and building the cancer hospital.

He said he would personally follow up on the implementation of the decisions taken, which he said would go a long way in deepening the bilateral partnership and boosting prosperity.

Besides MoUs in defence and security, revised pact on avoidance of double taxation and two LOCs, the other agreements were in the fields of visa, housing and measuring standards.

Source From : ndtv.com