Kenya to export sheep, meat and onions to Iran in new trade deal
Kenya has agreed to export 40 to 50 tonnes of sheep and meat per day to Iran with an estimated export value of USD 6 million (KES 773.9 million) per month. The country will also export 10,000 tonnes of onions to Iran in addition to tea.
This was announced by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua after holding a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador Dr. Jafar Barmaki on Wednesday.
“On trade, it was agreed that Kenya will export 40 to 50 tonnes of sheep and meat per day to Iran with an estimated export value of USD 6 Million per month. Further, we agreed on Kenya exporting 10, 000 tonnes of onions to Iran in addition to tea,” Mutua wrote in a statement.
Mutua said the new trade deal will boost Kenya’s economy and create more opportunities for farmers and traders. He also lauded the Iran House of Innovation and Technology (IHIT) Centre for helping Kenyan startups.
The meeting also discussed other areas of cooperation such as education, research and visa facilitation. Mutua said he promised to minimize the bureaucracy that led to the withdrawal of KES 40 million by Iran that had been earmarked to support Kenyan universities in nanotechnology research. He said he hoped to get the funds recommitted to Kenya.
He added that the meeting looked into scholarship options for Kenyan students to study in Iran and decided on a visa-free system between the two nations.
“On education, our meeting explored scholarship possibilities for Kenyans to study in Iran. Moreover, the meeting committed to having a free visa regime between our two countries with a view to promoting trade inter alia,” he said.
Mutua said Kenya values its strong bilateral relations with Iran and looks forward to increased exchanges and strengthening of mutual friendship.