Argentina & Kenya: a growing bilateral relationship
EMBASSY OF ARGENTINA TO KENYA
Argentina and Kenya have maintained diplomatic relations since 1965. Since then, both countries have been working progressively towards the growth of their bilateral relations. Historically, there is a very good bilateral relationship, with multiple coincidences in different bilateral and multilateral areas. In general terms, Argentina has a growing interest in projecting a greater national presence in the Sub-Saharan African region and in achieving greater density in relations with the countries of the continent. In this regard, Kenya is no exception. On the contrary, several agreements have been signed by both countries, which have allowed the development of a legal framework for bilateral relations and cooperation.
In 2016, former Argentine Foreign Minister visited Kenya on the occasion of the 14° United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). In 2017, former Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amina Mohamed, made two official visits to Argentina, one bilateral and the other for the 11° World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference. Both countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Consultations in 2014 and another Memorandum on cooperation between the Foreign Service Academy of Argentina and its Kenyan counterpart in the same year. Agreements on trade and sports, among others, are under negotiation. In terms of cooperation, both countries signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement, in force since 2021, which will deepen the great potential for cooperation in different areas of bilateral relations.
Since 2017, Argentina and Kenya have been carrying out the Cooperation Project for the improvement of livestock production in Kenya, taking advantage of Argentina's expertise in the field. The project is financially supported by the Argentine SouthSouth and Triangular Cooperation Fund (FOAR). Through successive technical visits of specialists from both countries, the project aims to exchange experiences in research and extension, technology transfer and training in grazing management and animal nutrition to improve livestock production in Kenya and contribute to food security, taking care of available natural resources.
Following restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the two countries held two virtual conferences in 2020 under the project to address technology development to improve family livestock production and to analyse extension systems in both countries. It is worth recalling that the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Argentina and Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2013. Through the Argentine South-South and Triangular Cooperation Fund (FO.AR), Argentina aims to strengthen countries' capacities through technical cooperation, i.e. the exchange of knowledge, technologies and best practices, as well as streamlining development processes through technical assistance. The results of these cooperation projects have an important social, economic and environmental impact that contributes to the well-being and progress of our societies. Furthermore, Argentina has high quality and experienced human resources, and respects the institutions of the countries with which it interacts. In this way, Argentina has become a relevant actor in the field of South-South and Triangular Cooperation under the premise of building, from the South, a bridge in the diversity of development actors.
In sports, Argentina and Kenya have been working jointly in recent times to enhance cooperation and to facilitate sports exchange. This has resulted in the two countries understanding each other better, greatly improving the practice of sport as well as contributing to the development of sports in general. The countries have accomplished this despite the distance and the pandemic. In football, the Embassy is supporting a new co-operation programme ''Football Technology Institute AFA FTI'' which was developed by the Argentine Football Association (AFA). This programme was introduced to the Kenya Football Federation in order to identify ways of cooperation among the two countries football associations. It is aimed at the formation of young footballers (boys and girls).
Cestoball is a sport that was born in Argentina at the beginning of the 20th century and has spread throughout the world. Argentina, through its Cestoball Confederation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been supporting the Cestoball Kenya Federation, recently launched in Nairobi, with the training of coaches, players and donations of balls. The joint work between both countries will contribute to the promotion and growth of cestoball in Kenya.
In 2018, the Kenya National Defence College paid an official visit to Argentina, which allowed strengthening the link, through knowledge, exchange and cooperation with Argentine institutions in issues related to international peace and security.
Consular affairs:
The Argentinean community in Kenya is small, currently numbering no more than 60 people. However, it is widely inserted in the Kenyan community. The Argentine Embassy in Nairobi has a Consular Section that assists the community in all the procedures and needs that arise among the Argentine residents in Kenya.
Economic and Commercial affairs: Approximately 84% of Argentine exports to Kenya are cereals, mostly wheat. Also exported are animal and vegetable oils and fats; fruits, peanuts and food preparations, mineral fuels, mineral oils and distillation products and wine. Argentine wine, in particular Malbec, has been following an upward pattern, having experienced dizzying growth since its entry into the market in 2013. Today you can find Argentinean wine in supermarkets, shops, restaurants and bars in Kenya. The Embassy supports the promotion of Argentine wine, among other products, by organising events and wine tastings, for example. On the other hand, the main products imported by Argentina from Kenya include seeds and oleaginous fruits, grains and fruits, coffee, tea and herbs, vegetable extracts, resins and lacquers.
The bilateral economic relationship between Argentina and Kenya has a very high growth potential, especially in the agricultural-livestock sector, in which Argentina has much to contribute to the local Kenyan reality (pest management, storage through “silobolsas”, seed improvement, irrigation, pesticides, dairy, etc.). Likewise, Argentina in the last decades has positioned itself as a key player in other areas of research and sale of products/services ranging from satellites, radars, nuclear reactors to the pharmaceutical and medical industry. The Argentine Embassy in Nairobi is committed to deepen and diversify the relations between both nations and their peoples in all possible fields.
"Since 2017, Argentina and Kenya have been carrying out the Cooperation Project for the improvement of livestock production in Kenya, taking advantage of Argentina's expertise in the field. "