India, Kenya hold 10th Joint Trade Committee meeting in Nairobi; bilateral trade rises to $4.31 billion
India and Kenya held the 10th session of the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) in Nairobi on April 27-28, reviewing bilateral trade and exploring ways to deepen economic cooperation across sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals and agriculture to digital infrastructure and renewable energy.
The meeting was co-chaired by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Trade Regina Akotah Ombam.
Both sides noted robust growth in trade ties, with bilateral trade reaching $4.31 billion in 2025-26, up 24.91 per cent from $3.45 billion in the previous fiscal, underlining India’s emergence as a key trading partner for Kenya.
Discussions focused on diversifying trade, resolving market access issues and leveraging complementarities in engineering goods, electronics, agriculture and pharmaceuticals.
The two sides reviewed progress on trade facilitation measures, including cooperation under an MoU between the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), aimed at strengthening standardisation and conformity assessment.
An MoU was also signed between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the Kenya Revenue Authority for exchange of pre-arrival customs information to streamline customs procedures and improve ease of doing business.
On the sidelines of the meeting, another agreement was signed between the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the India Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry to promote trade, investment and industrial collaboration.
India and Kenya also discussed promoting trade settlement in local currencies, with both sides noting the potential of Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) and exploring a Local Currency Settlement mechanism to facilitate smoother transactions.
In sectoral cooperation, opportunities were identified in automobiles, machinery, construction equipment and infrastructure, including support for Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway through feasibility studies, project management and rolling stock supply. Cooperation in shipbuilding was also explored.
In pharmaceuticals, India highlighted its role as a supplier of affordable generic medicines and proposed stronger business-to-business engagement, while discussions in agriculture focused on boosting trade and addressing sanitary and phytosanitary barriers.
India expressed readiness to support Kenya’s clean energy transition, including solar and wind projects. The Kenyan side also indicated its intention to sign the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement at the earliest.
Digital cooperation featured prominently in the talks, with discussions on UPI-like payment systems, Bharat Connect and digital platforms aimed at enhancing financial inclusion.
Capacity building also emerged as a key pillar of cooperation, with India offering training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme in sectors such as mining, healthcare, earth sciences and education, alongside discussions on skill development and student mobility under the “Study in India” initiative.
Both sides reaffirmed commitment to a diversified and future-oriented economic partnership and agreed to strengthen institutional mechanisms to resolve pending issues and promote business-to-business engagement.
An India-Kenya Joint Business Forum was also held on the sidelines with participation from leading businesses from both countries, focusing on expanding trade and investment linkages in manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, digital technologies and services.
Separately, the India-Kenya Chamber of Commerce organised an interaction with the Indian business community in Kenya, where participants discussed opportunities and experiences related to doing business in the East African nation.
