•He noted that bilateral trade has hiked Kenya’s exports standing at Sh4.8 billion while imports from Switzerland stand at Sh8 billion annually.
•Imports from Switzerland to Kenya include herbicides, fungicides, chemicals, paints, machinery and pharmaceuticals.
Image: PSCU
The government has announced that it is set to launch a new chancery in the Swiss Capital of Bern to enhance trade ties between Kenya and Switzerland.
In a statement on Thursday, Ambassador Andrew Kihurani said the launch of the new chancery will strengthen bilateral trade.
He noted that bilateral trade has hiked Kenya’s exports standing at Sh4.8 billion while imports from Switzerland stand at Sh8 billion annually.
“Another primary issue we engage in is the promotion of trade. You may be aware that there’s significant bilateral trade between the two countries. Kenya is Switzerland’s 16th biggest trading partner in Africa,” Kihurani said.
Kihurani noted that Kenya’s export of coffee, tea and horticultural produce has drastically improved.
He added that the trade-in 2021 was extensive with Kenya being Switzerland’s major source of cut flowers.
Imports from Switzerland to Kenya include herbicides, fungicides, chemicals, paints, machinery and pharmaceuticals.
“So our mandate is to be able to see how to enhance that trade between the two countries. Not only in terms of the volume but also in terms of the breadth, to see what other different items we can be able to trade between the two countries,” he added.
He further acknowledged a hike in the number of tourists from the two countries which is at 9,000 tourists annually from Switzerland prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He expressed hope that the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination process will revive the tourism sector with Kenya receiving an increasing number of tourists from Switzerland.
“Switzerland has done about 70 per cent of vaccination of its population and of course, in Kenya, we are continuing to increase the level of vaccinations. We expect the level of tourism will start growing once again and it is the responsibility of this embassy to enhance the growth of that tourism exchange,” Kihurani added.
He also said that President Uhuru Kenyatta will visit Geneva where he is scheduled to address the World Health Assembly on May 22.
He said the address by the President will showcase Kenya’s efforts in championing health issues globally.
“The meeting in Geneva is the World Health Assembly which takes place every year. And the meeting on this particular occasion will be addressed by His Excellency the President.
“This will be his first time to address the Assembly. This is important in terms of showing the support that Kenya has for issues which will be discussed with Assembly on the issue of health,” he said.
The 75th World Health Assembly will kick off with a high-level segment on May 22 with speeches from the elected Health Assembly President, Heads of State, special guests and an address by the WHO Director-General as well as a presentation of the Director-General’s Health Awards.
The theme of this year’s World Health Assembly is “Health for Peace, Peace for Health”.