President William Ruto of Kenya announced on Tuesday that China has agreed to provide market access for Kenyan agricultural products, a major win for the East African nation.
“Held talks with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit. During the meeting, President Xi agreed to give Kenya's agricultural produce access to the Chinese market,” President William Ruto said in a post on X.
This agreement holds significant potential for Kenya's agricultural sector, which currently exports a variety of goods to China, including ores, slag, ash, fruits, fish, coffee, tea, mate, and spices. In 2023, Kenya exported a total of $206.63 million worth of goods to China, according to UN COMTRADE data.
Ruto's meeting with Xi also saw discussions on expanding regional infrastructure projects in Kenya, with both leaders agreeing to explore the expansion of the Mombasa-Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line.
The SGR, a $3.6 billion project financed by China, is a major infrastructure development in Kenya, alongside the Nairobi Expressway.
On Monday, upon his arrival for the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, President Ruto said that "over the years, China has proven to be a true development partner, significantly revamping our infrastructure." He added, "We look forward to leveraging these ties to accelerate our transformation."