Rahimi : Kenya-Iran Can Become Major Trade Partners

Nairobi, May 28, IRNA – Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi said on Monday that Iran and Kenya have high capacity for economic cooperation and can turn into major trade partners linking Asia to Africa. He told a meeting with senior Kenyan officials that Kenya has undertaken effective task to bolster peace and security in Africa which can be considered a model for other African nations. Rahimi said that the Islamic Republic of Iran holds special views about the African states and believes in bright prospects for the African economy. “We are willing to finalize the agreements already signed by the two parties. We believe that the economic potentials of the two countries can be used in parallel.” Rahimi called for close cooperation between the private sectors of Iran and Kenya and said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to provide Kenyan youth with vocational and technical training and share experience with Kenya. Rahimi expressed concern about the conflict in Somalia and hailed Kenyan peace efforts in the neighboring country. He said that Iran is ready to mediate between the belligerent parties in Somalia. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, for his part, called for technical contribution of Iran to Kenya's development plan and said the Nairobi government is committed to implement the agreements already signed for economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Odinga said that he was pleased with the growing trend of trade relations with Iran and said that the two countries enjoy longstanding economic cooperation. He said that level of Iran-Kenya trade is satisfactory, adding that Kenya appreciates assistance of the Islamic Republic of Iran in health sector and believes that implementation of the agreements would help boost economic development. On Somalia, he regretted that Somalia has not seen peace over the past 20 years and Kenya is making every effort to help restore peace and security to Somalia./end