CS Amina Mohamed: Kenya, Oman to renew trade ties

MUSCAT: Kenya and Oman are set to enter into a new phase of relationship building on historical and traditional ties, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary Ms Amina Mohamed has said.

Speaking during a two-day visit to the Sultanate of Oman, CS Mohamed said the relationship between the two countries is traditional but has not been exploited for the benefit of the two peoples.

“Our ties run into many centuries and East Africa Coast is replete with Omani culture dating many centuries. These were occasioned by trade ties which we must re-establish going forward in all sectors including the political, economic and investment cooperation,” said CS Mohamed.

The Cabinet Secretary who met senior officials from the Sultanate among them the Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs Youssuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, said Kenya was keen to attract investment from Oman and would provide every support at government level for interested Omani investors. 

Accompanied by the Kenya’s Ambassador to the Sultanate Mr. Mohamed Dory Mohamed Yakub, the CS also held fruitful discussions with the Chamber of Commerce of Oman team led by Eng. Reda Juma Al-Salih who promised to take up the business-to-business talks with their Kenyan counterparts as soon as possible.

In another meeting, the CS met Mr. Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al-Murshidi, President of the State Reserve Fund which would like to invest food processing, energy and transport sector especially management of ports and logistics.

“We are willing and ready to move into Kenya and invest in areas that will give us good return of our money. We manage the Fund on behalf of the people of Oman and hence would not like to speculate or gamble. We go big on what we are sure to be good business and food processing is such an area,” said Al-Murshidi. He said his fund was very keen on having beneficial links between Salalah and Mombasa ports going forward.

The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Ali bin Massoud Al-Sunaidi, who also held discussions with the CS promised to lead a delegation of Omani business people to Nairobi in April this year for a quick feel of what kenya has to offer.

“I have noted the rising level of trade between Kenya and Oman and would like us to build on this momentum. The Sultanate needs chicken, eggs, grain, meat, water, professionals in hospitality, finance, logistics, transport and the like,” said Al-Sunaidi adding that all these are available in Kenya.

He called for synergy between the two countries promising to mobilise catalystic Omani billionaires to make investment in Kenya.

During the visit, CS Mohamed also visited the National Records and Archives Authority where she made extensive tour on the ultra-modern record management by the Authority headed by Dr. Hamad Mohd. Al Dhawiani.