The Nation (Nairobi) NEWS November 28, 2006 Posted to the web November 28, 2006
By Zeddy Sambu Nairobi
Egypt is set to become Kenya's fifth importer of livestock products by early next year, a Cabinet minister has said.
While such a move will signify a break from tradition of mainly tea and coffee exports to the north African country, the new market will help raise foreign earnings.
Currently, Mauritius, Italy, parts of the Middle East and Qatar are the major markets but efforts were being upped to expand the markets for live animals and fish products.
Egypt is Kenya's main importer of tea but the revival of the Kenya Meat Commission called for more markets for its products, said Livestock and Fisheries Development minister Joseph Munyao.
He announced the formation of a joint trade investment committee between the two countries.
In particular, he appealed to the north African country to absorb corned beef that was being produced in surplus by KMC.
Egypt's high commissioner to Kenya Saher Hamza cited various areas of collaboration as canning, and processing for fish as well as their transportation between the two countries.
"We also wish to be allowed to undertake deep sea fishing along Kenya's coastline," he said when he called on the minister at his Kilimo House offices in Nairobi yesterday.
By the close of 2005, Mr Hamza said that country was importing more than 40 different agricultural commodities.
Mr Munyao asked Egypt to diversify from mainly agricultural imports.
We need to diversify trade relations between both countries and not limit the bulk of trade to only tea and coffee," he said.
Such a move will help foster inter-trade relations between Comesa members, he added.