Kenyan Ambassador Tours the Phillipines
H.E. Amb Samori Okwiya(L) presenting a gift to Mr Alberto Lim (R), Philippines Secretary of Foreign affairs during a courtesy call paid by the Ambassador to the secretary’s office.
The Kenya High Commissioner to Malaysia recently had a visit to Manila Philippines from January 10th to January 12th which involved a number of fruitful meetings with key players in the government and private sector. The main highlight of the visit was to attend the New Year Vin D’honneur Hosted by H.E. Mr Bengine S. Aquino III, President of the Republic of Philippines at his Malacanang Palace. The ceremony, which is annually hosted by the President, was attended by heads of all the secretaries in various departments of the Philippine cabinet and Heads of Missions resident in the Philippines and others representing the region.
H.E. Amb Samori Okwiya (Second Left) in a discussion with, Attorney Miguel Varela (Third Right), President of the Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry (P.C.C.I) and the Secretary General of P.C.C.I Mr. Cris Fraineza (Second Right) during a courtesy call paid by the Ambassador to the PCCI president’s office.
The Ambassador also paid a courtesy call to secretaries of various ministries including Mr Alberto Lim (Secretary, Department of Tourism), Mr Mario G. Montejo (Secretary, Department of Science & Technology), Mr Albert F. Del Rosario(Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs). The Philippines foreign affairs ministry expressed interest in inviting the Kenya Foreign Affairs Minister Honourable Moses Wetangula to the Philippines to further strengthen the ties between the two countries. The two also agreed to look into joint venture trade agreement between the Kenya and the Philippines.
H.E. Amb Samori Okwiya presenting (L) a gift to Mr. Dondi Mapa (R),National Technolgy Officer (NTO) of Microsoft Phillipines during the appointment.
During his tour the Ambassador also had an appointment with Mr. Dondi Mapa, National Technolgy Officer (NTO) of Microsoft Phillipines. The two discussed various ICT projects between the two countries and how Kenya can benefit by adopting various IT policies and infrastructure implemented in Philippines. Among the IT policies discussed is sponsoring the needy Kenyan youth to study ICT courses in the university by coming up with a voucher system that is being used in the Philippines. In this system, the government issues study partial of full study scholarship to IT student then later on hire them to work in various IT projects and institution run by the government. Mr Mapa also expressed interest in the Malili ICT Park being developed in Konza and promised to look into how the ITAP can invest into this project for the benefit of the two countries.
H.E. Amb Samori Okwiya (R) and Mr Albert Yuchengco (L), Honourable Consulate of the Republic of Kenya based residing in the Peninsula Philippines during the luncheon hosted by the Honorary Consul.
Finally the Ambassador had a Luncheon meeting with Mr Albert Yuchengco, Honourable Consulate of the Republic of Kenya based residing in the Peninsula Philippines. The Ambassador conveyed his gratitude the Hon. Consulate for his service as the official representative of the Kenyan government in the Philippines. The two agreed to look into working on ensuring that the Kenyan Independence Celebration in 12th December 2012 this year can be celebrated even in the Philippines. Previously, the National Day has been celebrated by hosting a reception at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which is the country of residence for the Kenya High Commission. Besides the Philippines, H.E Amb. Samori Okwiya is also accredited as the official Ambassador to Kenya in Brunei and Indonesia.