The Egyptian Government will send a team of experts to Kenya to explore opportunities for strengthening economic ties in order to champion intra-Africa trade and South-South cooperation.
This was agreed during bilateral talks held in Cairo between Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei and Egyptian Foreign Trade and Industry Minister Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour.
The meeting comes on the backdrop of the visit to Kenya in January by Egypt’s Foreign Trade and Industry Minister where both countries undertook to cement the long ties, which started immediately after independence when Egypt opened its mission in Kenya.
Noting that Egypt imports 93 percent of its tea requirements from Kenya, the two ministers agreed to facilitate Kenya’s plans to acquire a warehouse in Cairo for trading and promotion of Kenyan products.
The talks further agreed to organise a Kenyan trade fair in Cairo in the coming months to specifically promote various Kenyan products and further deepen trade ties between the two countries.
Koskei who is on a five-day visit to Egypt to promote government-to-government cooperation in agriculture also attended the official opening of the 48th Cairo International Trade Fair by Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab.
The fair, which runs from March 18 to 27, 2015, brings together local and foreign companies to showcase a wide range of everyday use commodities and products.
The Egyptian Premier was impressed by the high level of displays at the Kenya stand and appreciated the opportunities available for horticultural, coffee, tea and fibre products exhibited at the fair. He said the exhibition sets a platform for increased trade collaboration between the two countries.
Leading exhibitors included the Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Authority (AFFA), Chai Trading Company, Gold Crown Limited, APP Commodities and the Kenya Tourist Board.
The Cabinet Secretary also made a strong case for meat exports to Egypt noting that Kenya has adequate livestock that can provide quality meat and meat products for the Egyptian market.
Source: Business&Tech)
