TEHRAN (Iran News) – Ambassador of Kenya to Tehran in a meeting at Shiraz Chamber of Commerce invited Iranian companies to use Kenya as a base for production and export of their products to East Africa.

Kenyan Envoy Mr. Jashua Gatimu in meeting with Head of Shiraz Chamber of Commerce in Shiraz, Fars Province, called for boosting economic cooperation between the two countries.

In the meeting, Gatimu pointed to good cooperation of Shiraz citizens with Kenyans which dates back to long time ago and there has always been good cooperation between the two sides through the years. He added that till now the relation between Iran and Kenya has been very good and he is happy that Kenya will celebrate 50th anniversary of diplomatic relation with Iran.

He termed important the exchanges in Shiraz and said that the importance is because Kenya had consulate general in Shiraz in the past but this cooperation was cut and now Kenya is working to launch its consulate general in Shiraz which shows the importance of this city for Kenya.

Gatimu then pointed t opportunities and capacities of Kenya and Shiraz, and said that the only country in Africa which houses Iran’s Center for Technology and Innovation is Kenya and this center is almost permanent exhibition and traders can put on display their products in this place and many commercial exchanges are done here and it has been a very good opportunity for Iran and Kenya.

He went on to say that currently 20 Iranian companies are active in this center and Kenya seeks to increase the number because it is useful for trade relation of both states. He then pointed to the important role of Nairobi for progress in trade exchanges between the two states, adding that Iranian ambassador in Nairobi is working hard for the launch of a permanent exhibition in Nairobi for offering construction materials coming from Iran, and Iranian companies can offer their products and exchange with Kenya.

He said that since Kenya is the big gateway to enter East Africa, he recommended Iranians to produce their products in Kenya and sell and export them because it will cost cheaper.

On agriculture and food security, Gatimu said that Kenya is a rich country in terms of land and water and Iran can be active in this field due to having technology. He also said that Iranians can build cheap price houses in Kenya because construction market is one of the good markets in his country and Kenya welcomes investment in this regard.

He then pointed to the launch of direct flights between Tehran and Nairobi and said that with the launch of direct flight, the distance will shorten and time of flight will reduce by four hours and it can reinforce and broaden trade between the two states.

Meanwhile Head of Shiraz Chamber of Commerce Mr. Jamal Razzaqi, for his part, pointed to the good relation of Fars Province with African states like Kenya and said that broadening economic ties of Fars Province and Africa can be a new chapter in economic development of Fars Province.

He then pointed to the capacities and potentials of Fars Province and said that the province has good capacities in fields of agriculture, tourism and medical sector and it can broaden its relation with other countries based on those capacities. He then pointed to the historic and cultural capacities of the province.

Razzaqi added that Fars with annual production of 14m tons of agro products plays an important role for meeting the needs of the country and exports to other countries and Fars Province is eager to broaden its trade ties in those fields.

He stated that Iran is one of the importing banana countries and Kenya can be a suitable destination for exchange of banana with better prices.