Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani is leading the Malaysian delegation on an official economic and technical mission to Kenya from May 6-8. – NSTP/ASWADI ALIAS
KUALA LUMPUR: Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani is leading the Malaysian delegation on an official economic and technical mission to Kenya from May 6-8.
The visit highlights Malaysia’s stance in strengthening economic, trade and investment relations with African nations, particularly in the commodities and plantation sectors.
Johari is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry of Kenya.
The meeting will focus on broadening cooperation in trade and investment, particularly in the palm oil sector among other key commodities.
This includes exploring how both countries can contribute to the global palm oil production ecosystem.
In addition, Johari will participate in dialogue sessions and roundtable engagements with industry players.
The sessions aim to identify strategic areas for collaboration, strengthen trade networks, and promote Malaysian palm oil, the ministry said in a statement today.
Official site visits to selected industrial facilities will be conducted to gain insights into Kenya’s production landscape and explore further collaborative opportunities.
Kenya holds strategic importance to Malaysia, both as a bilateral partner and as a gateway to broader regional markets.
Kenya is a member of the East African Community (EAC), an intergovernmental organisation comprising eight countries.
The EAC comprises Burundi, Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania with a combined population exceeding 330 million.
This makes the EAC a key economic bloc in sub-Saharan Africa, offering vast potential for market expansion.
The EAC Customs Union, established in 2005, allows products entering any one member country such as Kenya to be freely circulated across the region without additional tariffs.
This provides Malaysia with a cost-effective and efficient platform to enhance its exports, particularly palm oil, to the broader East African market.
Kenya is currently Malaysia’s largest importer of palm oil in the sub-Saharan African region.
In 2024 alone, Kenya accounted for 42 per cent of Malaysia’s total palm oil exports to sub-Saharan Africa, with Malaysia maintaining a dominant market share of 85 per cent in the country.
Moreover, Kenya plays a leading role in shaping regional trade policies and currently holds the position of chair of both the EAC Heads of State Summit and the EAC Council of Ministers.
This positions Kenya as a highly influential partner in advancing regional trade integration and offers Malaysia a strategic entry point into broader African markets.
“This economic mission represents a timely and strategic platform to deepen Malaysia-Kenya bilateral cooperation, leverage Kenya’s regional leadership, and expand Malaysia’s footprint in East Africa”.
“It reaffirms Malaysia’s commitment to responsible, sustainable, and mutually beneficial trade practices, while identifying new global opportunities for growth in the commodity sector,” the ministry said.
Source: New Straits Times
