TEHRAN (Iran News) – During a webinar on reviewing the trade capacities and opportunities of Iran and Kenya on Tuesday, it was announced that the direct cargo flight will be launched between the two countries by the end of 2021.
Addressing the webinar, Head of International Affairs of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Mr. Mohammad Reza Karbasi first pointed to the economic capacities of Kenya and added that Kenya is developing country in East Africa and the country is mainly dependent on agriculture, minerals and aquatic animals. He added that Kenya enjoys a special position in East Africa which provides Iran’s access to its neighboring countries like Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda and Kenya’s capacity for cooperation with its neighboring states is high.
Karbasi reiterated that ICCIMA has special view on trade with African states and it wants to use all capacities of economic activists, Iranian ambassadors in African countries as well as the Foreign Ministry to broaden presence in the African countries.
He stated there is good capacity for bilateral cooperation in the oil derivatives and bitumen, adding that if Iran wants to expand its trade with Kenya’s neighbors it can enter those markets through Mombasa Port and the export volume to that region via Kenya will increase. He also pointed to motor equipment, machineries and ago equipment, medicines and medical equipment, petrochemical and food stuff are the other fields for bilateral cooperation.
Karbasi reiterated major consuming products in Kenya are imported and Iran needs Kenyans to ease the process for Iranians to register its produced medicines in Kenya and its exports to Kenya’s neighboring states as well as to meet Kenya’s needs.
On imports from Kenya, he said Kenya can also provide Iran with feedstock, adding that of course this country can also provide Iran with cacao, grain and tropical fruits.
He added that despite huge capacities for cooperation between Iran and Kenya, their trade volume is unacceptable and the trade balance between the two countries was just $60m last year.
Karbasi then pointed to the obstacles in way of boosting trade between Iran and Kenya and said lack of banking relation is one of the main problems of Kenyan traders for trade with Iran which should be resolved and the launch of trade barter mechanism can be a solution which can help the trade between Iran and Kenya to increase.
He also reiterated that signing trade tariff agreement between Tehran and Nairobi is necessary for developing trade relations. He also pointed to the direct flight between Tehran and Nairobi and said despite the existing capacities, no direct flight between Iran and African states has been launched and the ground for its launch should be prepared for using all capacities of African markets.
Then Iran’s Ambassador to Kenya Mr. Jaafar Barmaki, for his part, briefed the participants in the webinar on the economic opportunities in Kenya and said Kenya is the only country among the six East African states which has access to the free water which helps other countries to have access to the free waters via this country.
He stated that talks for the launch of direct cargo flight between the two countries have begun and it is expected to be launched by the end of 2021.
Barmaki reiterated that for having a strong trade, one should both focus on imports and exports because trade is a reciprocal issue and Iran should not just focus on exports and in case it disregard imports, it may very soon lose its position in the market of Kenya.
Then Karbasi said the news of the launch of direct cargo flight between the two states is good news for Iranian traders and expressed hope soon the direct passenger flight between the two states would be launched.
