Kenya Moves to Enhance Trade with Somalia

Kenya has stepped up efforts to enhance trade and investment with Somalia, with a focus on improving cross-border trade, strengthening logistics and unlocking opportunities along the two countries’ shared position on the East African coast.

Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Hon. Lee Kinyanjui held bilateral talks with Somalia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Gamal Mohamed Hassan, on the sidelines of the Horn of Africa Initiative Trade Ministers Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“Kenya and Somalia are close neighbours with huge potential for trade and investment. The two countries occupy a critical part of the East African coast, presenting significant opportunities for cooperation in the maritime industry and logistics,” CS Kinyanjui said.

The Cabinet Secretary noted that greater attention should be placed on making border points enablers of commerce rather than obstacles to the movement of goods and people.

“Our borders must evolve from being choke points to becoming facilitation centres for trade. By improving border processes, connectivity and cooperation, we can make it easier for businesses on both sides to access markets and create economic opportunities for our people,” he said.

The bilateral discussions explored measures to strengthen trade relations between Kenya and Somalia, including improved trade facilitation, logistics and greater private-sector engagement.

CS Kinyanjui said closer economic cooperation between the two countries would complement wider efforts under the Horn of Africa Initiative to remove barriers to regional trade, strengthen integration and build more resilient regional value chains.

He noted that leveraging the region’s coastline, ports, border infrastructure and growing markets could position the Horn of Africa as a stronger trading bloc while creating jobs, expanding markets for businesses and promoting shared prosperity.