Goa Shipyard Limited and Kenya Shipyard Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 29 August 2023 for capacity building and cooperation in ship design and construction.
Main point
- The Kenyan Cabinet Defense Secretary is on a three-day visit to India and will visit Indian shipyards and defense industries in Goa and Bengaluru during his stay.
- Visiting Kenyan Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Beyer Duelle discusses capacity building and defense industry cooperation with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh
- The two ministers agreed that the defense relationship between the two countries has evolved from being training-centric to include more strategic aspects.
- The two ministers also agreed on the need for deeper cooperation in maritime security of the Indian Ocean region.
- As a token of friendship, Shri Singh presented 15 pairs of parachutes (main and reserve) manufactured by Gliders India Limited to the Kenyan Cabinet Defense Secretary for the use of Kenyan forces.
- India also asked for support to set up an advanced CT scan facility in Kenya.
- Mr Adan Baer Duale appreciated the growing strength of the Indian defense industry, including the private sector, and highlighted areas in which Indian industry can support the needs of the Kenyan forces.
- He also suggested ‘training’ of Kenyan forces and expressed gratitude for the engagement of trainers from Kenyan forces by Indian Armed Forces trainers to maintain continuity and derive maximum benefit from such programmes.
- Both sides also agreed to joint training in counter-terrorism and UN peacekeeping areas.
- The ministry said other regional security issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.