India has become a significant trading partner for Kenya, with bilateral trade reaching $4.31 billion in the fiscal year 2025–26. The two countries are focused on enhancing their trade and economic cooperation further. The 10th session of the India–Kenya Joint Trade Committee (JTC) in Nairobi, co-chaired by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Principal Secretary Regina Akotah Ombam, reviewed trade relations.
Trade between India and Kenya saw a substantial increase of 24.91% from $3.45 billion in the previous fiscal year. Discussions during the JTC meeting emphasized the need to diversify trade, address market access challenges, and capitalize on synergies in sectors like engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and electronics. The Commerce Ministry highlighted the importance of ongoing trade facilitation efforts.
Efforts to enhance cooperation included the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between various entities. The MoU between the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) aims to boost cooperation in standardization and conformity assessment. Additionally, an MoU was inked between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to enhance customs procedures and ease of doing business.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the India Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed an MoU to foster trade, investment, and industry collaboration. Both countries explored the potential of settling trade transactions in local currencies, including discussions on a Local Currency Settlement (LCS) mechanism. Opportunities for expanding exports in sectors like engineering, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy were also highlighted during the meeting.
