KENYA SEEKS TO EXPAND TRADE, INVESTMENT AND MARITIME COOPERATION WITH BARBADOS
KENYA SEEKS TO EXPAND TRADE, INVESTMENT AND MARITIME COOPERATION WITH BARBADOS
On the sidelines on the ongoing Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda, Kenya is seeking to broaden its diplomatic and economic engagement with the Caribbean. In particular, Kenya sought strategic partnership with Barbados in a bid to advance trade, investment and South-South cooperation.
During a bilateral meeting with Barbados, Dr. A. Korir Sing’oei, Principal Secretary, State Department for Foreign Affairs, and Senator the Honourable Christopher Peter Sinckler, Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, the aforementioned agenda items featured prominently.
Dr. Sing’oei conveyed Kenya’s appreciation to the Government of Barbados for the engagement, noting that the country occupies an important place in Kenya’s Caribbean partnerships. He observed that the cordial relations between the two countries, established in 2014, had been strengthened through high-level exchanges and institutional mechanisms designed to promote cooperation over the years, across various sectors.
Recalling the establishment of the Kenya-Barbados Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC), the Principal Secretary highlighted the successful convening of its inaugural session in Nairobi on 11th December 2019 and the second session in Barbados on 6th October 2021. He expressed Kenya’s readiness to host the third session, noting that it would provide an opportunity to take stock of progress, review existing bilateral instruments and identify practical measures for their implementation through the respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
On economic cooperation, Dr. Sing’oei called for deliberate efforts to expand bilateral trade, highlighting Kenya’s capacity to supply Barbados with quality coffee, tea, horticultural produce and dairy products. He noted that greater market access for these products would contribute to diversification of trade and strengthening of commercial linkages between the two countries.
Financial technology and banking also featured among the areas identified for deeper engagement. The Principal Secretary expressed Kenya’s interest in working with Barbados to explore opportunities in the FINTECH sector, recalling that Kenyan financial institutions, including Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Equity Bank, had previously expressed interest in correspondent banking and resident banking services in Barbados. He underscored the importance of creating an enabling environment for both public and private sector partnerships to identify and pursue viable investment opportunities.
In the health sector, Dr. Sing’oei urged both countries to move towards the practical implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Health Cooperation signed on 11th December 2019. He particularly highlighted opportunities for collaboration in the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases. He further invited Barbados to consider recruiting qualified Kenyan nurses to address its healthcare workforce requirements, citing the recruitment arrangement extended to the Republic of Ghana as a potential reference for similar cooperation with Kenya.
Maritime affairs and the blue economy were also identified as areas with considerable potential. Dr. Sing’oei expressed Kenya’s interest in operationalizing the proposed International Sister Port Agreement between the Port of Mombasa and the Port of Bridgetown. He noted that the arrangement could establish a framework for collaboration in port management, maritime commerce, trade and the sustainable utilization of ocean resources.
He clarified that Kenya’s decision to establish a High Commission in Kingston, Jamaica, had been informed by the need to provide temporary operational relief to the staff of its Embassy in Havana, Cuba, who had encountered administrative and operational challenges arising from the prolonged impact of sanctions imposed by the United States on Cuba.
On the multilateral front, Dr. Sing’oei sought Barbados' support for Kenya’s bid to host the 2028 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Nairobi. He highlighted Kenya’s established credentials in hosting major international conferences, its strategic geographical position as a regional hub, excellent international connectivity and well-developed conferencing infrastructure and facilities.
The two principals also underscored the importance of sustained diplomatic consultations in translating existing bilateral agreements into meaningful outcomes. They recognised that the effective implementation of signed instruments would be central to delivering tangible benefits to citizens and advancing the shared development priorities of both countries.
The engagement further reinforced the strategic value of Kenya-Barbados relations in connecting Africa and the Caribbean, particularly within the Commonwealth and other multilateral platforms. Both sides expressed interest in sustaining cooperation across trade, investment, health, financial services, maritime affairs and sustainable development.
Kenya remains committed to working with Barbados to give practical effect to the existing framework of cooperation and to explore new opportunities that will deepen bilateral relations while strengthening engagement with the wider Caribbean Community.