Kenya and Oman are exploring new opportunities to deepen agricultural trade and investment, with a focus on expanding export markets and commercially utilising underused agricultural land.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Senator Mutahi Kagwe held talks with Oman’s Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Nasra Salim Mohamed Al-Hashmi, on Thursday as the two countries sought to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture and trade.
The discussions focused on increasing exports of key Kenyan agricultural products, including tea, coffee, livestock, flowers, fruits and other horticultural produce to the Omani market.
The meeting comes as Kenya steps up efforts to diversify its export destinations and reduce reliance on traditional markets by opening new trade opportunities in the Middle East and other regions.
Beyond exports, the two sides also explored partnerships aimed at commercialising underutilised agricultural land to attract investment, increase productivity and promote value addition within the sector.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the partnership that will be formed after the talks is likely to bring about new chances for farmers, exporters, and investments and strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries.
There have existed historical relations between the Sultanate of Oman and Kenya for a number of years. The relations have been based on many years of trading and cultural ties within the East African coastal areas.
Historical ties exist between the two countries as there are connections established during the period of the Swahili Coast. There were times when Omani traders were involved in trade, cultural activities, and settlement in some parts of Kenya, specifically Mombasa, Lamu, Kilifi, and Kwale.
These relations still exist today due to family ties, culture and use of the Swahili language that connects these two countries.
CS Kagwe indicated that Kenya and Oman were going to explore cooperation with regards to agriculture, trade, and other related sectors. This is expected to bring economic advantages to the two countries in the future.
This meeting will also lay a foundation for cooperation in the area of trading, investment and making sure that Kenyan agricultural products will get better market access for Kenya’s agricultural produce in Oman
Through the Embassy of Kenya in Oman, Kenya has continued to foster such cooperation through investment and other economic engagements in the country.