Kenya and Iran are working to enhance their bilateral relations, with a specific focus on agriculture, in a bid to increase trade and cooperation. A recent meeting held at Kilimo House on Thursday brought together Agriculture Principal Secretary Kipronoh Ronoh and Ali Gholampour, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Kenya, to explore potential areas for collaboration.
The discussions were centered around strengthening trade links between the two nations, particularly in the agricultural sector. Kenya has long been a supplier of high-quality tea and coffee, both of which have found substantial markets in Iran. However, trade between the two countries has faced significant hurdles since 2021, when challenges in business transactions led to a halt in the import of Kenyan tea by Iran.
In the statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture, the officials highlighted that Iran has historically been a major importer of Kenyan tea, but the disruption in trade has created an accumulation of unsold tea at Kenyan auctions. This has been a challenge for the Kenyan tea sector, which is struggling to clear the backlog of unsold stock. The Ministry noted that it was critical to revive the Iranian market to address these challenges and boost Kenya’s tea industry.
One of the key solutions discussed was facilitating trade visits between Kenya and Iran. Both Ronoh and Gholampour agreed on the urgency of a trade visit to Iran to resolve the current issues and re-establish the flow of Kenyan agricultural exports to Iran, particularly tea and coffee. The visit would also serve as a platform for further exploring additional avenues for expanding the agricultural trade, such as promoting Kenyan tea and coffee to a broader Iranian market and tapping into other potential markets for Kenyan agricultural products.
The Kenyan government is keen to leverage the relationship with Iran to revive and expand the agricultural export sector, which has faced several challenges in recent years. By addressing trade disruptions and promoting Kenyan produce abroad, Kenya aims to increase its exports and create a sustainable, profitable agricultural market.
This collaboration also comes at a critical time when Kenya is seeking to diversify its agricultural exports and reduce dependency on traditional markets. Strengthening ties with Iran not only promises economic benefits but could pave the way for increased cooperation in other sectors, enhancing the broader relationship between the two countries.
The Agriculture Ministry remains committed to advancing these discussions, and a trade visit to Iran is expected to take place soon, marking a new chapter in the economic partnership between Kenya and Iran.
