Kenya gateway to East African markets for Iran

TABNAK, Aug.13 - Nouri Ghezeljeh said Kenya’s strategic position provides Iran access to a regional market of more than 350 million people.

News ID: 6683

Date: 13 August 2025 - 14:52

Iran’s agriculture minister has described Kenya as the country’s gateway to East Africa, stressing that the two nations should boost their currently “unsatisfactory” level of trade.

Qolamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh, heading a 100-member Iranian economic delegation, made the remarks during talks with Kenya’s trade and investment minister in Nairobi on Wednesday.

He said Kenya’s strategic position gives Iran access to a regional market of more than 350 million people, adding that Tehran’s vision extends beyond bilateral trade to deeper engagement with East Africa.

Highlighting Iran’s own strategic location, Nouri Ghezeljeh said the Islamic Republic can serve as an effective bridge for Kenya to reach markets in both the East and West.

He expressed hope that, by tapping into both countries’ industrial, agricultural, and logistical capacities, bilateral trade could rise to several billion dollars.

The minister underlined Iran’s readiness to swiftly remove trade barriers, and encouraged Kenyan partners to address banking and barter trade issues to facilitate business.

He noted that the Iranian delegation includes major companies in pharmaceuticals, industry, agriculture, and technology, reflecting Kenya’s importance in Iran’s Africa strategy.

Current informal trade stands at over $300 million, but Nouri Ghezeljeh said he expects it to exceed $1 billion in the near future if obstacles are resolved.

The minister and his accompanying delegation are in Nairobi to attend the two-day Joint Economic Cooperation Commission meeting that kicked off on Tuesday.