Minister Coveney highlights trade opportunities for Irish companies in Kenya

Minister Coveney highlights new business opportunities for Irish companies in Kenya

Minister Simon Coveney, who is currently on a visit to the Horn of Africa, is today attending a series of business promotion events in Nairobi, Kenya.  The East African country has one of the highest economic growth rates on the continent and Irish business is active in a number of important markets, including agri-food, international education, healthcare and ICT sectors.

Enterprise Ireland is actively involved in supporting Irish companies while the Embassy in Nairobi provides ongoing support and networking contacts for new entrants to the market. 

Minister Coveney said:

“Ireland and Kenya have an excellent bilateral relationship built on strong historical ties and people to people links.  This positive legacy means that it is natural and easy for Irish and Kenyan people to do business for the mutual benefit of both countries.

“It is clear that there are significant opportunities for Ireland and Kenya to increase trade and strengthen business to business relationships, based on sharing expertise in sectors which are hugely important to both countries; such as agriculture, food, health and education. The Irish Embassy in Nairobi is playing a pivotal role, along with the Business Ireland Kenya network and Enterprise Ireland, to seize on these opportunities

“This morning, I was delighted to launch a new Ireland-Kenya Agri-Food Strategy which will be delivered by the Irish Embassy in Nairobi in close cooperation with Teagasc and Enterprise Ireland.  This is part of a general plan to increase trade opportunities between both countries”.

A number of business agreements are being signed today between Irish and Kenyan companies in the presence of Minister Coveney. These agreements will enable Irish expertise in potato production, marine research, higher education, horticulture, computing skills and medical technology to benefit Kenyan companies, which will in turn boost two-way trade between both countries.

Minister Coveney added:

“I am very impressed by Kenya’s economic progress and its role as an economic powerhouse for the region. The country has transformed from largely agrarian into one of the most diversified and innovative markets with a thriving technology sector. The parallels with Ireland are striking. I am very optimistic that we can increase the volume of trade between both countries in the coming years.”

ENDS

Press Office

7 November 2017

Notes to editor

As part of Minister Coveney’s engagements in Nairobi, he will:

• Participate in a panel discussion with approximately 30 representatives of Kenyan and Irish businesses representing the Business Ireland Kenya network to discuss opportunities for increasing trade and cooperation between Ireland and Kenya in the coming years, with a focus on the education, healthcare, agri-food and ICT sectors.

• Launch, with the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and the Marine, a new Strategy around Ireland-Kenya Agri-Food business whichwill be delivered through a Team Ireland approach led by the Irish Embassy in Nairobi in close cooperation with Teagasc and Enterprise Ireland. The Strategy will support the creation of new trading opportunities for Irish companies interested in the Kenyan market.

• Witness the signature of two Memoranda of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in Kenya and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, and the Marine Institute in Ireland. These agreements relate to a commitment to joint cooperation between Ireland and Kenya in fisheries training, in the development of aquaculture and in increasing trade in fish and fishery products.

• Announce the awarding of grants to three Irish businesses, through a joint initiative between Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Department of Agriculture called the African Agri-food Development Programme. Thisjoint initiative aims to build innovative partnerships with Kenyan businesses in agri-food that will yield benefits both for businesses and small-holder farmers.

• Witness the signature of three business to business agreements between Irish and Kenyan companies. These include:
  • An agreement between International Potato Marketing (based in Donegal) and Kevian Kenya provides for the supply of high yielding varieties of certified potato seed from Ireland which will be made available to Kenyan farmers.
  • An agreement between Griffith College (in Ireland) and Riara University that formalises plans for student exchanges.
  • An agreement between Irish company Vitro Software, their local partner Savannah Informatics and The Nairobi Hospital. The agreement formalises an agreement for Vitro Software to install, and provide support services, for computer software at The Nairobi Hospital.

• Present computer literacy certificates to clients of the International Computer Driving Licence (ICL) Africa. ICDL is a fully owned subsidiary of the European Computer Driving Licence (Dublin).

• Open the new East Africa offices of MagGrow.  MagGrow is an Irish company that has pioneered the development of a magnetic spraying system for the horticulture industry which greatly improves spraying efficiency, cuts costs, reduces water usage and improves consumer safety.