Kenyan exports to German State of Bavarian will hit Sh6.9 billion in 2024, the government has been told.
Bavarian State Vice Minister for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy Tobias Gotthardt said the imports from Kenya will grow by Sh500 million from Sh6.4 billion recorded last year.
Gotthardt noted that agricultural products will form the bulk of Kenyan exports to Bavaria.
“I have just learned that most of the flowers I give my wife are from Kenya. I want to thank Kenya most sincerely for making my life easier at home,” he said.
Gotthardt made the remarks on Tuesday after holding a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry Salim Mvurya at his office.
He was accompanied by representatives of over German 25 companies, 35 government officials, Bavaria MPs and representatives of the German Chamber of Commerce.
Bavaria has the second-largest economy among the German states by GDP figures, giving it the status of a wealthy German region.
Its GDP per resident is one of the highest in the world and its employment development outranks all other German states.
During the meeting, Gotthardt gave a formal update on the officially opened Bavarian Representative office in Kenya.
The visit follows progress in implementing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) by the ministry with the European Union to establish mechanisms for duty-free and quota-free access to boost trade volumes and create opportunities for local producers.
Mvurya noted that Kenya exported goods worth Sh16 billion to Germany in 2023 mainly coffee, tea, flowers and imported goods valued at Sh39 billion from the European nation.
“As you can see, the balance of trade is in favour of Germany. We want to export more to Germany in the coming days,” he said.
He said officials from the Kenyan Chamber of Commerce and Industry have scheduled meetings with their German counterparts to work on modalities of boosting trade.
Gotthardt noted that Kenya is one of Germany’s biggest trading partners in Africa.
“We are looking forward to strengthening the partnership in the near future. We are committed to deepening cooperation and friendship,” he added.
