Iran Eyes Kenya as Strategic Gateway to African Markets: Official

President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture Samad Hassanzadeh has said Iran sees Kenya as a strategic and two-way partner, and can play a role as Kenya’s gateway to Central Asia and Eurasia.

Speaking in a meeting with the President of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Erick Rutto, Hassanzadeh said that although both the Islamic Republic of Iran and Kenya possess considerable capacities, the current volume of trade between them remains below an appropriate level, and the chambers of commerce of both countries can jointly create valuable opportunities.

Hassanzadeh outlined Iran’s capabilities, with particular emphasis on health and medicine, agriculture, energy, petrochemicals and fertilizer, infrastructure, housing, and technology, and noted that these strengths align well with Kenya’s developmental requirements.

Despite enduring sanctions for several decades, Iran has nonetheless developed remarkable capacities, and we are both willing and duty-bound to share these with African nations.

He expressed Iran’s private sector’s willingness to participate in supplying medicine and medical equipment, as well as in joint production in Kenya

In the field of agriculture and food security, we are ready for the transfer of technical knowledge in mechanization, modern irrigation, processing and conversion industries, and reducing post-harvest waste, and for joint investment with Kenyan partners in the agricultural value chain, he stated.

Meanwhile, Ruto underscored the significance, for Kenya, of drawing in economic actors from other nations to participate in dam construction, road building, mining, and health services. - IRNA