Deputy foreign minister of Israel, Hon. Daniel Ayalon, completed his regional tour of Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya meant to enhance cordial relations and strengthen business ties with Israel. The delegation that accompanied him was Deputy Director General of the African Division at the Foreign Ministry, Avi Granot, Head of Mashav Daniel Carmon and two political advisors Ms. Klarina Shpitz and Mr. Gershon Kedar.
TOUR OF UGANDA
Hon. Ayalon and his delegation arrived at Entebbe on Monday 13th August 2012 and proceeded for a service and laying of a wreath in commemoration of the rescue operation of the hijacked aircraft of the 1976 Entebbe raid, which took the life of Jonathan Netanyahu, late brother to Israeli Prime Minister, Hon. Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Tuesday 14th August, Hon. Ayalon, together with Mr. Daniel Carmon and Uganda’s Health Minister Dr. Chrisine Ondoa, inaugurated a new Israeli – built trauma center and emergency Ward with a capacity to handle emergencies, at Mulago Hospital which serves as a referral centre in the country. The new trauma center has been funded and constructed through MASHAV – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation. MASHAV is within Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is charged with the responsibility of extending and sharing knowledge to empower developing nations. Israeli experts’ were sent to conduct two-week training for personnel who are to work at the unit. Israel has already offered to donate ambulances to health centers countrywide, as a contribution towards improving the health sector in Uganda.
TOUR OF KENYA
Deputy Minister Ayalon working visit of Kenya started on Tuesday 14th August evening. The Minister and his delegation met the Prime Minister, the Vice President, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Minister for Defence / Ag. Minister for Internal Security among other government officials.
On Thursday 17th August, he proceeded to Kisumu, to launch a trilateral cooperation between Kenya, Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany, on the development of the aquaculture sector in Kenya, at Ramogi Institute of advance Technology (RIAT) The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Raila Odinga together with a host of other ministers graced the occasion. A Press Conference by the Kenyan Prime Minister, Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Hon. Daniel Ayalon and the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Hon. Dirk Niebel was held at RIAT institute after the launch of the cooperation.
Front (L-R): Hon. Daniel Ayalon, Hon. Amason Kingi, Hon. Dirk Niebel, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga
Standing (L-R): H.E Gil Haskel, H.E Margit Hell Wig-Botte, Hon. Margaret Kamar, H.E
On Friday 17th August, Hon. Ayalon hosted a business luncheon for the business community in Kenya to discuss strengthening business ties between the two nations especially in the areas of energy, agriculture, water, infrastructure and security. The Kenyan Deputy Minister for Trade, Hon. Manson Nyamweya presided over the luncheon.
The Minister officiated over the closing ceremony of the ‘People of the World writing the Bible’, Kenyan chapter, on Sunday 19th August. The exercise that begun two years ago, in 2010, has seen over 31,000 Kenyans write bible verses in Kiswahili to be housed in the Bible Valley, at the foothills of Jerusalem mountains. Vice President Hon. Dr. Kalonzo Musyoka presided over the ceremony.
Hon. Daniel Ayalon with the bible 'inscripted' in Swahili
As a summary of his tour, Hon. Daniel Ayalon hosted journalist for a luncheon who raised questions on the Political situation in the Middle East and the Arab uprising, the acts of Terrorism globally and the operations of MASHAV in Kenya.