Kenya currently holds talks with China in which they hope to come to an agreement that would see Kenyan goods receive preferential access to Chinese markets. Such a step would create numerous new markets for Kenyan farmers and businesses.
On Monday, while celebrating the 76th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi disclosed the negotiations. He further shared that a high-level Kenyan delegation is now in Beijing, requesting the inclusion of Kenyan products such as tea, coffee, and flowers in China’s zero-tariff schedule.
Mudavadi clarified that if the deal were to go through then Kenyan entrepreneurs and farmers would “take advantage of the Chinese market duty-free,” further noting that the talks “are a big move towards our export competitiveness in Kenya”.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary also acknowledged the extension plan of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Kisumu and Malaba. The development, he said, would be significant for the flow of traffic holding the Great Lakes region, and also trade to Uganda, besides the railway, the government is also contemplating the dual carriage upgrade of the Rironi–Mai Mahiu–Malaba road to facilitate the smooth running of the transport sector”
“The transformation of China into a world-class economic powerhouse of the kind that we see today, and, undoubtedly, has been heavily underpinned by trade, innovation, and openness…,” Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan, from her side, said. She further mentioned that Beijing intends to keep cooperating with the Kenyan government and Africa through the likes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
‘What China can do is to continuously open markets, foster innovation, and support multilateralism, which is essential for a fair global order,’ Ambassador Guo noted.
Together, they highlighted that the best approach to deal with the consequences of present volatile world economy is to reinforce multilateralism and establish predictable trade partnerships. Accordingly, Kenya and China have agreed to deepen relations further so as to reap maximum mutual gains.
