Kenya and Hungary have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral trade and economic cooperation following the successful conclusion of the second Joint Economic and Technical Committee (JETC) meeting held in Nairobi.
The talks were led by Principal Secretary of the State Department for Trade, Regina Ombam, and Hungary’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Tristan Azbej. The two delegations reviewed progress since their first virtual session in 2024 and outlined a framework to strengthen ties across a broad range of sectors.
Key areas of cooperation identified during the meeting include water management and irrigation, agricultural value addition, energy, trade and investment, healthcare, high technology, higher education, youth affairs, culture, and the creative economy. Humanitarian assistance and international development were also part of the agenda.
“We already partner in key areas such as trade, investment, agriculture, education, health, and technology,” said PS Ombam. “Today’s meeting agreed to further strengthen these relations to drive economic growth, generate employment, and support Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.”
Ombam also noted that bilateral cooperation will be aligned with broader multilateral frameworks, including the European Union–East African Community arrangements.
State Secretary Azbej emphasized Hungary’s interest in expanding trade volumes and sectoral cooperation. “We are offering Hungarian technology and expertise, particularly in technology-intensive industries,” he said. “We are already seeing promising Hungarian investments in water, irrigation, and agriculture, and expect to diversify into more sectors.”
He further highlighted Hungary’s openness to foreign direct investment from Kenya, citing competitive investment incentives, a highly skilled workforce, and access to the European Union market under the Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.
Trade between Kenya and Hungary reached USD 20 million in 2024, a 30% increase from the previous year, signaling strong momentum in bilateral relations.
Written By Rodney Mbua
