Iranian ambassador to Kenya Ja’far Barmaki has expressed hope that a cargo flight will be launched between Iran and Kenya by the end of 2021.
In an online meeting on Iran-Kenya trade capacities on Wednesday, barter trade, preferential tariffs, banking obstacles, launching direct cargo and passenger flights between the two countries, as well as establishment of an industrial town in Kenya were discussed.
In addition to the Iranian ambassador to Kenya, Deputy for International Affairs of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Mohammad Reza Karbasi, Head of Iran-Kenya Joint Chamber of Commerce Hassan Khosrojerdi, and economic activists from all across the country were present at the webinar.
Speaking during the meeting, ICCIMA Deputy for International Affairs Mohammad Reza Karbasi said that Kenya, a developing country in East Africa, mainly relies on agriculture, minerals and aquaculture.
He said that Kenya provides the Islamic Republic of Iran with access to neighboring countries, including Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda.
Referring to huge capacities for cooperation with Kenya, Karbasi said that the two countries can cooperate on machineries, agricultural equipment, medicine, pharmaceuticals, petrochemical products and foodstuffs.
He also said that Kenya and its neighboring countries can meet Iran’s needs for livestock and poultry feed, cocoa, grains, and tropical fruits.
Noting that the ground is prepared for cooperation in the area of construction, road and dam construction in particular, Karbasi said that cooperation on extra-territorial cultivation also needs to be taken into consideration.
He said that Iran-Kenya trade stood at $60 million in the last Iranian fiscal year (March 2020-March 2021) that can be multiplied several times.
Iranian Ambassador to Kenya Ja’far Barmaki also addressed the meeting, expressing hope that a direct cargo flight will be launched between Iran and Kenya by the end of 2021.
He said that the two sides have also had negotiations for launching a direct passenger flight, noting that launching cargo and passenger flights between the two countries will be good news for the exporters and importers of fruits and agricultural products.
Barmaki also said that Iran plans to launch an industrial town in Kenya.