NAIROBI, Kenya Feb 27 – Kenya and Algeria have initiated negotiations that will allow bilateral trade in various commodities including tea, coffee, nuts, fruits, and flowers from Kenya and oil, gas, and petroleum from Algeria.
The development was announced during a meeting between Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula and Algeria’s Ministers of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, and the Minister of Trade and Export Promotion Kamel Rezig.
Algeria commands a huge energy sector as an oil-producing country in the continent while Kenya is big in producing and exporting tea, coffee, nuts, and flowers among other products that the two countries can mutually benefit from each other.
While engaging the Minister of Energy, Wetang’ula indicated that Kenya was exploring possibilities of producing oil though in an initial stage and needed collaboration in capacity building on oil exploration and processing.
“Kenya is has discovered oil resources but just at the initial stages of discovery and research. Algeria having traded in oil for many years will be of help to our country in aspects of remaining and exchange of experience in the sector,” said Wetang’ula.
He indicated that technological skill transfer will help speed up the process of oil discovery in Kenya leading to lowering the skyrocketing fuel prices in the country.
Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab acknowledged the need for strengthening business ties with Kenya.
He painted an overview picture of the energy sector in Algeria while elaborating on three elements of oil production and processing including; exploration, processing, and commercialization.
On his part, Rezig indicated he was ready to revive the already excited cordial relations between the two countries to enhance bilateral engagement through the establishment of a business economic council to establish areas of strategic engagement for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
He acknowledged that the formation of Kenya – Algeria Friendship Group was an added advantage to help propagate the trading agenda between the two countries
