CS Kagwe hold talks with UAE Ambassador Alnaqbi

The meeting was to strengthen agricultural and trade cooperation between Kenya and the United Arab Emirates.

by PERPETUA ETYANG

News10 March 2025 - 16:30

In Summary

Trade between Kenya and the UAE has more than doubled over the past decade with total trade between the two countries reaching Sh445 billion in 2023.
The UAE ranks as Kenya's sixth-largest export destination and second-largest source of imports, accounting for 16 per cent of Kenya's total imports.

*Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe holds talks with the United Arab Emirates Ambassador Salim Ibrahim Alnaqbi in Nairobi on March 10, 2025 / HANDOUT*

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Monday held talks with the United Arab Emirates Ambassador Salim Ibrahim Alnaqbi at the UAE Embassy in Nairobi.

The CS said the meeting was to strengthen agricultural and trade cooperation between Kenya and the United Arab Emirates.

Their discussions focused on enhancing bilateral relations and building on recent agreements aimed at boosting trade and investment.

In January 2025, Kenya and the UAE signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The agreement eliminated trade barriers and opened new markets for Kenyan exports, including meat, fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

CEPA was the first agreement of its kind signed by the UAE with a mainland African country, representing a transformative step in enhancing trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Trade between Kenya and the UAE has more than doubled over the past decade with total trade between the two countries reaching Sh445 billion in 2023.

The UAE ranks as Kenya's sixth-largest export destination and second-largest source of imports, accounting for 16 per cent of Kenya's total imports.

Kenya exported Sh9.9 billion worth of agricultural products such as meat and meat products to the UAE in 2023, representing more than half of the country's total meat exports (Sh18.3 billion).

The CEPA agreement has strengthened Kenya's position as a gateway to East and Southern Africa and reaffirmed the UAE's role as a global logistics and financial hub connecting the Middle East, Asia, and beyond.

The 2023 trade agreement with Dubai expanded investment opportunities, allowing Kenya to diversify its exports while increasing imports of electronics, machinery, and vehicles.

Kagwe said the Memorandum of Understanding between the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Dubai International Chamber further supports business partnerships through trade missions and investment forums.

The meeting reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to translating these agreements into tangible benefits, fostering economic growth, and advancing Kenya’s agricultural sector on the global stage.