The Director of the Office of the President and General Director of CEOE International, Narciso Casado, will accompany the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Josep Borrell, on his official visit to Kenya, where he will meet today and tomorrow with important authorities of the Kenyan government. and with representatives of Spanish companies installed in the country. The general director of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain, Inmaculada Riera, will also be part of the Spanish delegation.
During his stay in Nairobi, the Spanish delegation, led by Minister Borrell, will hold a meeting today, Monday 10, with the Treasury Minister of Kenya, Henry Rotich and will then move to the United Nations headquarters in the Kenyan capital. They will also hold a working lunch with the resident coordinator and with representatives of the UN office in Nairobi, the United Nations Environment Program and UN-Habitat. Later, a reception will be offered at the residence of the Spanish ambassador in Kenya to end the day.
Tomorrow, the 11th, CEOE International CEO will intervene in a working breakfast with Spanish businessmen installed in the capital, to analyze the existing business opportunities in the area and the possibility of cooperating in joint projects. Representatives of the Secretary of State for Trade, the Chamber of Spain and executives of Spanish companies, among others, will participate in the event.
On the same day, the Spanish delegation will participate in a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell and his Kenyan counterpart, Monica Juma. To end their visit to the capital, they will be received in audience by the President of the Republic, Uhuru Kenyatta.
Bilateral relations
According to a report by the Diplomatic Information Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, in 2017, Spanish exports to Kenya amounted to about 81 million euros and the main items exported were machines and mechanical devices (21.6 %); electrical appliances and equipment (9.6%); manufactures of iron and steel castings (8.3%); paper and cardboard (6.5%); other chemical products (4.8%); plastic materials (4.7%); and ceramic products (4.7%). The data between January and September of 2018 show a considerable increase, from 61 to 84 million euros, with respect to the same period of 2017.
In 2017, imports from Kenya represented 33.5 million euros, with the main items imported being canned vegetables and fruit (32.8%); minerals, slag and ash (17.6%); cocoa (11.5%); coffee and tea (11.3%); fruit (10.1%); other vegetable textile fibers (6.4%); and plants and flowers (4.5%). The data available from January to September 2018 in relation to the same period last year show an increase from 26.3 to 30.5 million euros.
According to the report, Spain ranks seventh in the ranking of EU countries exporting to Kenya and the same position in imports from Kenya by European countries.