Kenya and Australia are exploring new areas of cooperation in the mining sector, including training and technical capacity building, as Nairobi seeks to increase value addition in its minerals industry.
Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said Kenya could benefit from Australia’s experience in the mining sector through collaboration, skills development and capacity building.
Kinyanjui spoke after meeting an Australian delegation led by the country’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Andrew Barnes, where they discussed opportunities to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
“Kenya and Australia share strong trade ties, and Australia is also home to a large number of Kenyan students,” Kinyanjui said.
He said the partnership could support Kenya’s efforts to move beyond the extraction of minerals and increase local value addition.
The CS said the discussions also focused on developing technical skills among Kenyans to support the growth of the mining industry.
The meeting further explored the possibility of establishing direct flights between Kenya and Australia, a move that Kinyanjui said could strengthen people-to-people ties and trade between the two countries.
He said direct air connectivity would support passenger travel and tourism while creating opportunities for increased cargo movement and trade.
Australia hosts a significant number of Kenyan students and members of the Kenyan and wider African communities, making improved air connectivity an important consideration in strengthening bilateral relations.
“Direct air connectivity would support passenger travel and tourism while also opening up opportunities for increased cargo movement and trade,” Kinyanjui said.
The discussions come as Kenya seeks to expand international markets for its products