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The Kenyan government has endorsed a significant trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), aimed at expanding Kenya’s global economic footprint. The Kenya-UAE Economic Partnership Agreement was considered and approved by the Cabinet, marking a key step in enhancing access to foreign markets.
The initial phase of the agreement was concluded earlier this year, with Trade Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and her UAE counterpart Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi signing the deal. The successful technical negotiations for Phase I of the UAE-Kenya Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) were officially announced in a joint communique dated February 22.
Parliament is now set to debate and approve the document for it to come into force. Once ratified, the treaty will grant Kenyan products such as tea, meat, fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers preferential market access to the UAE. It aims to deepen trade relations and enhance investment flows by improving market access for services and removing unnecessary trade barriers, while also providing new opportunities for economic and technical cooperation.
As part of the negotiations, Kenya and the UAE will engage with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat to further expand market access for goods in the region. Trade Cabinet Secretary Miano highlighted that the conclusion of the talks reflects the strong bilateral relationship and longstanding friendship between the two nations.
“The CEPA also represents the shared commitment by the UAE and Kenya to achieving greater economic progress for peoples and business communities in both nations,” Miano said.
In related developments, the Kenya-EU partnership agreement came into force on July 1, providing duty-free, quota-free EU market access to all Kenyan exports and gradual opening of the Kenyan market to EU imports. The EU was Kenya’s second-largest export market in 2022, accounting for Ksh 133.2 billion in revenues, a 15 percent increase from 2021, according to the Economic Survey 2023.
