Iran Eyes Big Jump in Trade Ties With Kenya

President Ebrahim Raisi said the current level of trade between Iran and Kenya is not acceptable, saying the country seeks a manifold increase in economic relations. 
“Just as we were able to increase trade ties by eight times in a short period, it is possible, with the determination of both sides, to further raise it to an acceptable level,” he said at a joint press briefing with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto in Nairobi on Wednesday, President.ir reported. 
He underlined the target of ten-fold rise in bilateral trade in the first step, but noted that there is a potential for increasing that volume by 20 or 30 times over time. 
Raisi arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday morning as part of a tour of Africa and was officially received by Ruto at the presidential palace. 
He later held bilateral talks with his counterpart before attending the meeting of high-ranking delegations. 
“In my consultations with the president and meetings held this morning, I saw a determination in both countries to expand economic, trade, political and cultural relations,” he said at the press conference. 
Raisi said Iran views Kenya as a country abundant with various capacities whose exchange with Iran’s numerous potentials can help upgrade mutual ties. 
Iran has been able to make progress in different economic, scientific and technological fields despite sanctions and threats by enemies, and is ready to share its experiences with the people of Kenya, he added. 
“Iran has had valuable achievements in petrochemicals industry, agriculture, fishery, science, technology, health and medical equipment, which are among sectors in which the two countries can cooperate,” he said. 
He pointed to plans for the establishment of an office of technological cooperation in Kenya and launching joint projects in overseas cultivation and livestock production, highlighting their effect on expanding relations. 

New Chapter

The president later said thanks to Kenya’s extensive relations with eastern African states, Tehran-Nairobi cooperation will not be limited to the two countries and will be a platform for broader regional ties.
“With this trip, which is a turning point in developing bilateral relations, the market of Iranian goods and services in Kenya and other eastern African states will expand day by day,” he said.  
Iran and Kenya can also cooperate at regional and international level in defending human rights, fighting drug smuggling and similar areas, Raisi said. 
The Kenyan president also described the visit as a beginning of a new chapter in Tehran-Nairobi ties, saying it will strengthen friendship bonds and mutual cooperation. 
“We are certain that these collaborations will be continuous,” Ruto said. 
He expressed Kenya’s readiness to invest in Iran and mutually welcome Iranian investors. 
Automobile assembling factories are set to be launched in Kenya with the cooperation of Iranian companies, Ruto said, adding that good plans have been made for cooperation in mechanic engineering as well. 
During the meeting of delegations, the top-ranking politico-economic officials discussed ways to expand cooperation and introduced the existing capacities of both countries. 
They later inked five memorandums of understanding in different sectors. 
The MoUs in the fields of veterinary, communications, culture, fishery and polytechnics were signed by relevant ministers at the presence of the two presidents. 
Raisi later left Kenya for Uganda at the next leg of his African tour, and will be visiting Zimbabwe next. 
Top officials from ministries of health, agriculture and labor, as well as the department of science and technology and knowledge-based economy are accompanying the president. 
This is the first visit to the African continent by an Iranian president in 11 years. 
Earlier, the first economic cooperation summit of Iran and West African countries was also held in Tehran in March. 
Government Spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi had said earlier that the main purpose of this trip is to boost ties with friendly and aligned countries and diversify Iran’s export destinations. 
“Although the volume of Iran’s trade with the African continent has seen a 100% hike compared to 2021, this is by no means sufficient and our economic relations must be upgraded in proportion with Africa’s roughly $600 million market,” he said.