NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 15 – Iran is seeking to deepen its economic engagement with Kenya, targeting a rise in trade volumes from the current $79 million (Sh10.3 billion) to $200 million (Sh26.2 billion) within the next two years.
Iranian Embassy Nairobi Third Secretary and Deputy for Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Saleh Niazi said health tourism is among the promising growth areas, citing Iran’s advanced surgical technologies, cancer treatment capabilities, and medical expertise.
Niazi, who also heads the embassy’s Department for Economic Affairs, said the economic arm comprises three units — a financial attaché for B2B arrangements, the Department for Economic and G2G arrangements, and the Iranian House of Innovation and Technology (IHIT), which he founded five years ago to drive trade discussions and partnerships.
This week, Iran hosted the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) with Kenya, alongside a business forum attended by 79 companies from sectors including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, construction, and energy.
Kenya’s exports to Iran include tea, coffee, fresh fruits, and flowers, while imports comprise construction materials, bitumen, and oil products. Iranian companies, some operating for more than 70 years, are keen on agricultural partnerships in Kenya, particularly in horticulture, meat trade, and productivity improvement.
Niazi highlighted the significance of trade agreements, pointing to Kenya’s membership in the East African Community, COMESA, and the African Continental Free Trade Area. The Iranian delegation also featured firms from Russia and South Africa, underscoring broader regional interest in Kenya’s market.
The remarks were made during the Real Sources Africa B2B Matchmaking Program, which convened Iranian delegates and Kenyan enterprises for targeted engagement and strategic presentations.
The program focused on unlocking new commercial corridors and promoting collaboration across manufacturing, agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, and digital infrastructure.
It highlighted Real Sources Africa, an AfCFTA Trading Company, as a strategic enabler of digital trade facilitation across the continent, streamlining access to verified markets, reducing bottlenecks, and accelerating cross-border transactions through platforms such as Biashara Link and Deal house.
“We are here to support them on how they can explore investing in this particular part of the country, and basically them using East Africa, in particular Kenya, as a launchpad into the African market, set up industrial parks in this particular country, and use the opportunity that comes with the African content-affiliated area to be able to access the intel of the African market,” Felix Chege, Founder and CEO of Real Sources Africa, said.
Ivan Omondi also contributed to this article
