JERUSALEM, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Israel and Kenya have signed an agreement on strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation, the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry announced on Tuesday.
Following two-day discussions by an Israeli-Kenyan trade committee, the agreement was signed after a meeting between Israeli Economy Minister Orna Barbivay and visiting Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development Betty Maina, the ministry said.
The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in sectors including trade, energy, tourism, urban development, environment and water, health, communications, and tariffs, it said.
"Kenya's economy has a high growth potential and is a fertile ground for the activities of Israeli companies," Barbivay said. "Strengthening economic ties with Kenya will help increase Israeli exports to Africa."
For her part, Maina said that both countries enjoy cordial relationships underpinned by cooperation in several fields, adding that the purpose of the Kenyan delegation's visit to Israel was to explore how to increase Kenya's exports and industrial cooperation.
Kenya is Israel's 4th trade partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics. Israeli exports to Kenya reached 43.2 million U.S. dollars last year, while imports totaled 13 million dollars. ■
