President William Ruto this morning hosted President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran at Statehouse Nairobi for bilateral talks.
The two heads of states witnessed the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) by the two countries’ Foreign Affairs Ministers which was yesterday postponed to today. The MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation between Kenya and Iran.
President Ruto described Iran as a ‘’critical strategic partner for Kenya’’ while expressing his gratitude and commitment to expand the two countries’ relations.
‘’I express to his excellency the president our appreciation of our bilateral cooperation in the promotion of trade particularly in the export of the Kenyan product to Iran. More specifically I sought the president’s commitment in facilitating the export of more tea, meat and other agricultural products to Iran and through Iran to the central Asian countries,’’ he said.
He emphasized the need for a stronger collaboration with Iran which according to him plays a significant role in the delivery of value chain through the bottom-up economic transformation agenda.
He further commended the increased trade volumes between the two countries stating that in the first quarter Q1 of 2023 Kenya exported tea worth US dollars 28.4 million (Ksh4 billion) to Iran. This, he said, is an eight-time increase in tea export to Iran compared to the same period last year.
‘’Kenya attaches great significance to the Iranian market since it is one of the most valued export destinations for our tea,’’ the President said.
In addition, he praised Iran for supporting technological and entrepreneurial innovations among the Kenyan youths through the Iran House Innovation and Technology Center which promotes the innovation of Kenyan startups and creative industry.
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‘This is an outstanding intervention that is innovative and directly aligned with our national aspiration towards creating a digital superhighway and a robust digital economy as primary pillars of the bottom-up economic transformation agenda,’’ president Ruto stated.
The President went on to urge Iran to take advantage of the manufacture of the medical equipment and pharmaceutical products whose taxes have been eliminated encouraging them to set-up industry in Kenya
He concluded by stating that Kenya is open to enhancing and advancing future engagements with Iran citing the two counties’ shared commitment for the pursuit of greater prosperity of the countries and regions.
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Among the countries that President Raisi is set to visit in Africa include Uganda and Zimbabwe. He is the first Iranian President to visit Africa in over a decade.
