KENYA – Kenyan, Indonesia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding seeking for Kenya to export at least 100 000 livestock to Indonesia every year.
Speaking during a joint brief at State House, President Ruto said Kenya and Indonesia are ready to work together in several sectors to enable the two countries to benefit largely.
“Let me say here that the great country of Indonesia expects our Kenya livestock sector to export at least 100,000 every year, as there is an opportunity for the private sector to facilitate that, “ he said.
He added that there will also be an opportunity for Indonesia to set up a crude palm oil refinery in Kenya.
“This will make sure we not only facilitate palm oil from Indonesia to Kenya but to also the region, as they are real opportunities for investments,” he noted.
The two leaders also signed six Memorandums of Understanding in sectors like oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, edible oils, and agriculture.
“These value-addition ventures will catapult the value of our trade relations and leverage on the comparative advantage of Kenya and Indonesia,” he said.
Earlier this year, Kenyan livestock farmers in Taita County were excited as they explored entering into a deal with their Indonesian counterparts, that would guarantee them access to enter the Indonesian beef market and allow the farmers to export 50,000 heads of cattle annually.
According to the state livestock production director, Elmi Bishar, the deal required a minimum live weight for each cattle to be 350kg and will be sold at US$2.8 per kg.
County Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation CEC Erickson Kyongo said the county is currently exporting about 600 heads of cattle monthly, leaving the export market with a deficit.
“There are still huge opportunities in the beef export market. We are welcoming the national government to help our farmers tap the international market opportunities,” Kyongo said.
According to International Livestock Research Institute, the Kenya livestock sector supports the livelihoods of a significant part of the population and is key to attaining food and nutrition security in the country.
The sector contributes approximately 12 per cent to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 42 per cent to agricultural GDP.
Recently, the Kakamega fish processing factory announced its plans to export fish and fish products to the European Union market following receiving a certificate for meeting the international standards of the bloc.
According to Samuel Ondiek, the CEO of the DAS Group that is running the factory, the factory is set to export fish products to at least 27 EU countries.
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