Africa-Press – Kenya. Morocco has pledged to increase imports of Kenyan agricultural products, including tea and coffee, in a significant breakthrough aimed at addressing a trade imbalance between the two countries.
The announcement came just a day after Kenya formally urged Morocco to expand its import portfolio during bilateral discussions in Rabat.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who led the Kenyan delegation, confirmed the development following a high-level meeting with Morocco’s Minister for Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour.
“We reached a mutual understanding to expand the importation of Kenyan farm produce, an important step toward rebalancing trade, which has long tilted in Morocco’s favour,” Mudavadi said in a statement.
Kenya had raised concerns over the uneven trade volumes, with Morocco exporting goods worth over Sh12 billion to Kenya annually, while Kenya’s exports to the North African nation remained below Sh500 million.
“There is an urgent need to redress the current imbalance, which is heavily tilted in favour of our North African partners,” Mudavadi said a day earlier during separate talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.
The renewed commitment is expected to give Kenyan tea and coffee producers access to a growing Moroccan market, strengthening the agricultural sector and diversifying Kenya’s export destinations.
In a move to bolster economic and people-to-people ties, both countries are also preparing for the resumption of direct flights between Nairobi and Morocco’s major cities, Rabat and Casablanca.
“Improved air connectivity will not only facilitate trade but also open new avenues in tourism, business, and cultural exchange,” Mudavadi noted.
Kenya and Morocco also signed a series of bilateral agreements to deepen cooperation across various sectors.
These include Memoranda of Understanding in housing and development, trade, youth affairs, foreign service training, and inter-institutional collaborations between the Kenya School of Government and Morocco’s National Higher School of Administration.
Highlighting Morocco’s success in the tourism sector—having grown its international arrivals from 12 million to a projected 20 million by 2025—Mudavadi said Kenya is keen to draw lessons and establish joint ventures to boost its own tourism performance.
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