Kenya to Deepen Trade Ties with Hungary
Kenya is set to strengthen its trade and investment relations with Hungary following high-level discussions held between the Principal Secretary for Trade, Regina Ombam, and the Hungarian Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Zsolt Mészáros.
The meeting, held at the State Department's headquarters served as a preparatory engagement for the upcoming Kenya–Hungary Joint Investment and Technical Committee (JITC) meeting, scheduled to take place in Nairobi later this year.
Acknowledging the longstanding cordial ties between the two nations, PS Ombam reiterated Kenya’s commitment to advancing mutually beneficial partnerships.
"Kenya values its close relationship with Hungary, and we are eager to deepen cooperation in areas that will drive sustainable economic growth for both countries," Ombam said.
“Our engagement today underscores our shared vision of expanding trade and investment opportunities that are in line with Kenya’s development priorities.”
Key areas discussed included preparations for the JITC meeting, where both delegations reviewed the agenda and identified strategic priorities to guide future collaboration. These include enhancing trade and investment relations, reviewing progress under the Tied Aid Credit Framework, and exploring emerging opportunities in sectors such as manufacturing, renewable energy, and infrastructure development.
Ambassador Mészáros underscored Hungary’s commitment to expanding its engagement with Kenya. "Hungary sees Kenya as a key partner in the region, and we are committed to building strong trade and investment linkages through platforms such as the JITC," he remarked.
“We are particularly keen on supporting initiatives in agro-processing, SME development, and renewable energy, where we believe our expertise and resources can complement Kenya’s ambitions.”
The two parties also explored avenues for capacity building and technical assistance.
Hungary expressed readiness to support Kenya in modernizing its trade processes, including digitalization, regulatory harmonization, and fostering innovation to enhance export-led growth. "Supporting Kenya’s journey towards a more digital and innovative trade ecosystem is an area where Hungary can offer tangible value," Ambassador Mészáros noted.
Both sides agreed on the importance of accelerating the implementation of ongoing projects to ensure alignment with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
"We are focused on ensuring that the projects we jointly undertake are impactful and aligned with our long-term economic strategies," Ombam emphasized.
The forthcoming JITC meeting is expected to formalize several of these discussions and pave the way for deeper cooperation between Kenya and Hungary in the coming years