Kenya is seeking to expand its
agricultural exports into North Africa, with Algeria identified as a key
potential market for milk powder, tea, and coffee.
This follows a bilateral meeting
between Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Sen. Mutahi
Kagwe and Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Exports Promotion, Prof.
Kamel Rezig, held on the sidelines of the UN Food Systems Summit +4 (UNFSS+4)
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
During the meeting, Kenya expressed
strong interest in exporting surplus milk powder, alongside its globally
competitive tea and coffee, as part of a wider strategy to diversify export
destinations and curb post-harvest losses.
Kenya produced over 5.3 billion
litres of milk in 2024, and is increasingly investing in value addition to
boost export readiness.
The two countries agreed to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support structured trade cooperation.
Algeria committed to hosting a trade
expo to showcase its products to Kenyan businesses, in an effort to boost
bilateral trade flows and address existing imbalances.
Kenya also pushed for enhanced
direct trade links with North African markets. While countries in the region
already import Kenyan goods such as cut flowers, many of these shipments are
routed through European hubs like Amsterdam.
Improved direct trade is expected to
increase returns for Kenyan exporters and improve market access.
The meeting is part of Kenya’sagenda
to strengthen regional and continental trade ties, while positioning its
agricultural sector for greater global competitiveness.
