India-Kenya 10th Joint Trade Committee meets in Nairobi, MoU inked
Synopsis
At their 10th Joint Trade Committee meeting in Nairobi, India and Kenya didn't just talk trade — they signed a customs MoU between CBIC and Kenya Revenue Authority to speed up cargo clearances and improve risk management, while also laying the groundwork for parliamentary and business-to-business engagement across pharma, fintech, and renewable energy.
Key Takeaways
The 10th India-Kenya Joint Trade Committee meeting was held in Nairobi on 28 April 2025 .
Co-chaired by India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Kenya's Principal Secretary for Trade Regina Akoth Ombam .
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on exchange of pre-arrival customs information was signed between CBIC and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) .
Key sectors discussed: pharmaceuticals, agriculture, digital public infrastructure, fintech, renewable energy, and manufacturing .
India's High Commissioner Adarsh Swaika earlier handed over a letter from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to Kenya's National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula , formalising the India–Kenya Parliamentary Friendship Group .
The 10th India-Kenya Joint Trade Committee meeting was held in Nairobi on Monday, 28 April 2025, marking a significant step in deepening bilateral economic ties between the two nations. The session was co-chaired by Rajesh Agrawal, Commerce Secretary of India, and Regina Akoth Ombam, Principal Secretary for Trade of Kenya, according to the High Commission of India in Kenya.
Key Discussions on Trade and Market Access
Both delegations held comprehensive discussions covering a wide range of bilateral priorities, including enhancing trade volumes, improving market access, and addressing tariff and non-tariff barriers. Sectors highlighted for deeper cooperation included pharmaceuticals, agriculture, digital public infrastructure, fintech, renewable energy, and manufacturing. Progress on development partnerships in logistics, infrastructure planning, and capacity building was also reviewed during the session.
MoU on Customs Pre-Arrival Information
A key outcome of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the exchange of pre-arrival information for goods between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). The agreement was signed by Yogendra Garg, Member, CBIC, and Lilian Nyawanda, Commissioner General, KRA, in the presence of both co-chairs. The MoU is expected to enhance customs cooperation, enable faster cargo clearances, improve risk management, and facilitate smoother bilateral trade flows between the two countries.
Commitment to a Future-Oriented Partnership
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to building a more diversified, balanced, and future-oriented economic partnership. They agreed to strengthen institutional mechanisms to facilitate trade, resolve pending issues, and promote greater business-to-business engagement. Notably, this is the tenth such bilateral trade committee meeting, reflecting a sustained and structured engagement between India and Kenya over the years.
Parliamentary Ties Also Strengthened
This comes amid a broader push to deepen India-Kenya relations across multiple tracks. Earlier this month, India's High Commissioner to Kenya, Adarsh Swaika, called on Kenya's National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula in Nairobi. During the meeting, Swaika handed over a letter from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to Wetang'ula, conveying the constitution of the India–Kenya Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Indian Parliament — a step aimed at further strengthening parliamentary exchanges and bilateral ties through Friendship Groups.
With the MoU now in place and institutional frameworks being reinforced, the India-Kenya trade relationship appears poised for a more structured and accelerated phase of growth in the months ahead.
Point of View
With implementation lagging due to logistical and regulatory gaps on both sides. The customs pre-arrival information MoU between CBIC and KRA is a practical, operational step — the kind that actually moves goods faster — and that distinguishes it from the broader aspirational language around pharma and fintech cooperation. India's simultaneous push on parliamentary friendship groups suggests a deliberate multi-track strategy in Africa, but converting those ties into tangible trade growth will require more than institutional architecture.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was decided at the 10th India-Kenya Joint Trade Committee meeting?
The 10th India-Kenya Joint Trade Committee meeting, held in Nairobi on 28 April 2025, covered bilateral trade enhancement, market access, and sectoral cooperation in pharmaceuticals, fintech, and renewable energy. A key MoU on customs pre-arrival information exchange was signed between India's CBIC and Kenya's Revenue Authority.
What is the MoU signed between CBIC and Kenya Revenue Authority about?
The MoU facilitates the exchange of pre-arrival information for goods between India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). It aims to enable faster cargo clearances, improve customs risk management, and smoothen bilateral trade flows.
Who co-chaired the India-Kenya Joint Trade Committee meeting?
The meeting was co-chaired by Rajesh Agrawal, Commerce Secretary of India, and Regina Akoth Ombam, Principal Secretary for Trade of Kenya.
What sectors did India and Kenya agree to cooperate on?
Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, digital public infrastructure, fintech, renewable energy, manufacturing, logistics, and infrastructure planning.
What is the India–Kenya Parliamentary Friendship Group?
The India–Kenya Parliamentary Friendship Group is a newly constituted body in the Indian Parliament aimed at strengthening parliamentary exchanges between the two countries. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's letter conveying its constitution was handed over to Kenya's National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula by India's High Commissioner Adarsh Swaika earlier in April 2025.
