Kenya has welcomed the decision by India to open its market to avocados from Kenya, saying it will expand opportunities for Kenyan farmers.
- President William Ruto while on a tour to India invited Indian companies to take advantage of Kenya’s conducive and attractive environment to invest in agriculture and value addition, manufacturing and pharmaceutical, health, ICT, green energy and green mobility, affordable housing, and water sectors, among others.
- Kenya secured market for fresh avocado after Indian government approved the export of the fresh produce beginning September. The move opened up opportunity to local farmers in a consumer market estimated to be of 1.4 billion buyers.
- Kenya has from the year 2016 increased its avocado production. In 2020 it overtook South Africa to become the continent’s largest exporter.
During his two day visit to India, the president witnessed signing of five memoranda of understanding between Kenya and India to enhance bilateral relations.
President William Ruto said forging stronger ties with India will be instrumental in advancing Kenya’s Bottom-Up Empowerment Transformation Agenda.
The President said Kenya stands to gain from India’s progress in technology, agro-industrial transformation, universal healthcare provision, slum upgrading, affordable housing programs and the digital economy revolution.
According to President Ruto, India has agreed to facilitate skills and technology transfer, in line with Kenya’s particular needs, in sectors such as health, education, ICT and digital governance.
“The thrust of the business transacted during our official bilateral meetings with the government of India, as well as engagements with the representatives of the Indian private sector consisted of BETA-aligned encounters,” he said.
To accelerate the realisation of Universal Healthcare, Kenya will work with India to advance the country’s pharmaceutical and medical commodities manufacturing capabilities as well as advanced medical technologies including digital health and telemedicine.
“This would greatly deepen and broaden access to affordable healthcare for Kenyans from every walk of life and especially those at the bottom of the socioeconomic structure,” he said.
- The leaders discussed the expansion of bilateral trade and investment between Kenya and India and committed to resolving impediments to market access and addressing non-tariff barriers.
- To support agriculture, India agreed to finance agricultural mechanisation projects in Kenya to enhance agro-industrial productivity in line with BETA.
- The President said India has offered support in training and capacity-building in clean and renewable energy transmission, grid integration and management and energy efficiency to enhance the country’s green growth ambitions.
The President said Kenya and India have agreed on a Joint Vision Statement on Maritime Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region dubbed BAHARI to facilitate collaborations in the maritime sector.
He said Kenya and India also agreed to scale up cooperation in security to combat terrorism and other common security threats.
