On 17 September 2012, Ms. Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden´s Minister for International Development Cooperation, inaugurated the new Swedish Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. The new office is Sweden´s largest Embassy worldwide, which confirms the country´s strong partnership with Kenya and the region.
About 300 guests took part in the event, during which they could enjoy bitings with a taste of Sweden. Among the guests were several cabinet ministers, ambassadors, and partners from private sector and civil society.
Minister Carlsson met during her visit to Nairobi with Prime Minister Odinga as well as with Foreign Minister Ongeri and Finance Minister Githae. She was accompanied by Ms Charlotte Petri-Gornitzka, Director General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The Director General will also meet with other partners to discuss Sweden´s support to Kenya, Somalia and the region with the objective to improve the conditions of poor people.
At the new Embassy, Sweden and Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship, ICT and urban development.
We in Bearing welcome the cooperation. Having a strong interest in our practice in the development of East Africa in general and Kenya in particular, we believe a cooperation between the countries can be very beneficial. Sweden is considered to be one of the most advanced countries in terms of innovation worldwide. Sweden always ranks high in all international reports on Science and Technology indicators such as the ones regularly published by the OECD or Eurostat.
As many small countries, the Swedish economy has a strong international orientation and this is also reflected in the national innovation system. The Swedish government has chosen to focus strategic investments on three key areas: medicine and bioscience, technology, and sustainable environment.
Kenya is developing the country through Vision 2030, to create a globally competitive and prosperous nation with the aim to reach a high quality of life by 2030. In the vision, Konza Technology City is a flagship project in the economic pillar and innovation is a very important enabler. Other strong and important areas of development in Kenya are life sciences and environment.
We believe that Sweden can contribute to the development of the innovation system in Kenya and to Konza Technology City, with development of innovation systems, fostering entrepreneurship and sustainable development, where Sweden have leading competence in the world. Sweden and Kenya have had a long lasting cooperation on development and aid, which will be strengthened through this cooperation.
By developing the innovation system in Kenya, it will strengthen the Kenyan economy in the short run through labor intense economic activities, and in the longer run by empowering development of the knowledge economy.
By Jörgen Eriksson on September 17, 2012
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Sweden had never had a colony in Africa,its one of the developed countries in technology . but Kenyans should never expect to be given technology by the Swedes, technology is either created, innovated ,bought or stolen.
Sweden is just like their cousins the British,Americans or Germans. their aim is to control African coutries and to maintain their infruence and intrests just like any capitalist country .
Africa is the present and future for distributing raw materials for developed countries both West& East.
The western Imperialist Countries inclunding Sweden is very much worried by the Chinese aggressive Investment and infruence everywhere in Africa .
Kenya and other countries in Africa should not expect free things from Sweden.
What is the aim of a small country like Sweden opening one of the biggest Embassy in a third world country like Kenya?
Sweden Must be habouring colonial mentality in 21st century!
Kenyans must be elert when dealings with foreig suspiscious countries.
Africans must be allowed to chooce their friends and not to be forced on their throats!