The government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Iran in a bid to enhance the agricultural sector and expand trade opportunities.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh shared the government’s objectives during a meeting at Kilimo House in Nairobi, where he hosted the Iranian Ambassador to Kenya, Dr. Ali Gholampour. “We explored ways of enhancing Kenya-Iran relations and strategies to expand agricultural trade,” said Dr. Ronoh.
The discussions focused on increasing exports of Kenyan agricultural products, such as tea and coffee, to Iran, where there is significant demand. “Iran has historically been a major importer of Kenyan tea. However, trade between the two countries faced disruptions in 2021 due to various challenges. The renewed partnership aims to address these obstacles, particularly the surplus of unsold tea in Kenyan auctions, by reviving the Iranian market,” Dr. Ronoh explained.
Dr. Ronoh emphasized that the collaboration would benefit Kenya’s agricultural exports as the country seeks to access new markets. “The Iranian market presents a great opportunity for Kenyan produce, especially as we look to expand beyond traditional export destinations,” he added. He also noted that both countries are focused on improving the quality and competitiveness of Kenyan produce in the global market.
To ensure the smooth resumption of trade, both parties agreed to organize an urgent trade mission to Iran to finalize arrangements. This mission is expected to help overcome trade barriers and strengthen commercial ties.
The initiative underscores Kenya’s ongoing efforts to support its agriculture sector, diversify export markets, and improve the resilience of its agricultural value chains. The renewed partnership with Iran is a step forward in Kenya’s goal of boosting agricultural exports and driving economic growth.
