Israel agrees to improve trade ties with Kenya
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Business reporter GAROWE ONLINE
- Posted On 10-05-2023, 05:34PM
TEL AVIV, Israel - Kenya and Israel will work together to eliminate barriers to trade between them. This was revealed in a meeting between President William Ruto and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The two leaders also revealed that there exists huge potential between the two countries.
“We must exploit these opportunities. There is a wide range of exports that deserve to reach the Israel market,” said President Ruto.
Kenya’s head of state further revealed that the absence of direct flights between Kenya and Israel is a “serious impediment” that continues to hamper trade and tourism.
President Ruto made the remarks on Tuesday when he met the Prime Minister of Israel at his office in Jerusalem.
He observed that Kenya and Israel possess unique global attractions that can sustain robust growth in tourism. “Without free movement, tourism is severely restricted.”
President Ruto argued that the review of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement gives Kenya Airways and El-Al — the flag carrier of Israel — an opportunity to elevate their operations.
The President said it was time Kenya-Israel cooperation was enhanced due to the sub-par trade volumes.
Today, Kenyan exports to Israel are worth $ 100 million whilst imports from Israel amount to $ 7.5 million a year. “We are underperforming, but we have clear potential to do much more.”
He said the imbalance is not a result of natural equilibrium in Kenya’s export performance but impositions on export producers.
On his part, Mr. Netanyahu committed to continuing working with Kenya in fighting terrorism, countering radicalization, and violent extremism.
“It is our focus that we remain stable and peaceful as we pursue our socio-economic friendship,” he said. Earlier, President Ruto met his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog at his residence in Jerusalem where they agreed to expand Kenya-Israel cooperation.
“We are broadening our friendship to efficiently produce more to feed our people and export the surplus,” argued President Ruto. President Herzog observed that Israel’s modern farming technology will sustainably drive Kenya’s “hugely transformational plan”.
GAROWE ONLINE
