KENYA – Foreign Affairs and International Trade cabinet secretary Amina Mohamed says Kenya and Oman will enter into a new phase of economic ties as the Asian country eyes local food processing industry and the port of Mombasa.

President of the State Reserve Fund in Oman Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al-Murshidi said his country would like to invest in food processing, energy and transport sector especially management of ports and logistics.

 “We manage the fund on behalf of the people of Oman and hence would not like to speculate or gamble. We will go big on what we are sure to be good business and food processing is such an area,” Said Mr Al-Murshidi.

 “We are willing and ready to move into Kenya and invest in areas that will give us good return of our money,” he added.

Speaking during a two-day visit to the Sultanate of Oman, Ms Mohamed said the relationship between the two countries has not been exploited for the benefit of the two states.

 “Our ties run into many centuries and East Africa Coast is replete with Omani culture dating many centuries. These were occasioned by trade ties which we must re-establish going forward in all sectors including the political, economic and investment cooperation,” said Ms Mohamed.

The cabinet secretary who met senior officials from the Sultanate among them the Minister for Foreign Affairs Youssuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, said Kenya was keen to attract investment from Oman and would provide every support at government level for interested Omani investors.

The CS also held discussions with the Chamber of Commerce of Oman team led by Reda Juma Al-Salih who promised to take up the business-to-business talks with their Kenyan counterparts as soon as possible.

The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Dr Ali bin Massoud Al-Sunaidi, who also held discussions with the CS promised to lead a delegation of Omani business people to Nairobi in April to discuss possible areas of cooperation.

 “I have noted the rising level of trade between Kenya and Oman and would like us to build on this momentum. The Sultanate needs chicken, eggs, grain, meat, water, professionals in hospitality, finance, logistics, transport and the like,” said Al-Sunaidi.

He called for synergy between the two countries promising to mobilise catalystic Omani billionaires to make investment in Kenya.

During the visit, CS Mohamed also visited the National Records and Archives Authority where she made extensive tour on the ultra-modern record management by the Authority.

February 10, 2016; http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Kenya-seeks-to-strengthen-economic-ties-with-Oman/-/539546/3070534/-/oyja7oz/-/index.html