Pakistan, Kenya discuss trade beyond tea

Focus on agriculture and pharma sectors, Central Asia-East Africa trade gateway

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and the Kenyan high commissioner met on Monday to explore new horizons in trade and regional cooperation.

The discussions centred on leveraging Pakistan's strategic location to serve as a gateway between Central Asia and the East African Community, with both sides expressing a strong commitment to deepening economic ties, according to a statement.

The minister reiterated Pakistan's commitment to deepening ties with Kenya and the broader East African Community.

Highlighting Pakistan's strategic location, he underscored its potential role as a bridge for trade between Central Asian Republics (CARs) and East Africa, paving the way for stronger trilateral relations. Discussions during the meeting covered key trade sectors, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and commodities.

The minister emphasised that Pakistan, as one of the largest importers of Kenyan tea, saw tremendous scope of diversifying trade to other unique African products such as coffee, pineapples, and more.

Similarly, Kenya was invited to explore opportunities for import of Himalayan pink salt, marble, and cement from Pakistan.

Pharmaceuticals also emerged as a growing sector for bilateral trade. With banking channels already well-established between the two countries, the minister highlighted the importance of expediting the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the East African bloc.

The high commissioner requested swift progress on the MoU, which was currently under review by Pakistan's Law Division.