Pakistani High Commissioner to Kenya, Syed Zahid Hussain said on Saturday that High Commission and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) would make the warehouse scheme operational here soon to boost Pakistani exports to Kenya.
In an exclusive interview with APP, the High Commissioner said that imports into Africa were continuously increasing touching $140 billion, whereas Pakistan's exports for the last many years were stuck at around $500 million per annum.
"It makes it less than 0.4 percent of total African imports", he added. Syed Zahid Hussan said that Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Karachi established Pakistan-Kenya Joint Business Council (JBC) in 2001 but it remained dormant.
He added that during 3rd JMC in July 2004 it was reactivated with the active involvement of Pak High Commission.
He said that JMC had provided a useful platform for better understanding and co-operation between private sectors of the two countries.
Replying to a question, he said Pakistan and Kenya were supposed to hold their JMC in 2003 but it was being delayed due to one reason or the other. The JMC, he said was finally held here in July 2004, for which the high commission undertook proper preparations.
The meeting, he said was also attended by Chairman EPB and the meetings enabled both the countries to review the ongoing initiatives of bilateral trade and co-operation and many MOUs were signed to further strengthen the relations between Pakistan and Kenya.
About the achievements of Pakistan High Commission Kenya, Syed Zahid Hussain said that PIA discontinued their flights operations during 1999 due to visa restrictions imposed by Kenya, which made the business unviable.
"Since my assuming the charge as High Commissioner, Kenya I aggressively followed with PIA for resumption of flights, these have already resumed from August 30," he remarked.
The High Commissioner expressed hope that the step would go a long way in further strengthening bilateral relations especially in trade and business between the two countries. He said that there had been a ban on importing fruit and vegetables into Kenya from Pakistan since long. "We aggressively followed with the government of Kenya's relevant departments and managed to get the ban lifted on Pakistani mangoes, citrus and onions in June 2004.
"Trade relations between Kenya and Pakistan were seriously stained after Kenya put 45 percent additional duty on Pakistani rice", he added. Hussain said that Pakistan was the largest exporter of rice to Kenya.
The High Commission also managed to help the issue resolved with extensive engagement with Ministries of Trade, Finance and Regional Co-operation that dealt specifically with the East African regional trade affairs.
"We actively co-ordinated with the relevant Ministries in Pakistan and the rice exporters to keep pressure on to have the duty on rice reduced to its pre-Common External Tariff level", he added.
Zahid Hussain said the Kenyan government finally agreed in May last to continue charging the old duty rate ie 35 percent for the next two years.
"I feel that Pakistan and Kenya need a big boost to upgrade their bilateral relations through interaction at the highest level and I have been endeavouring for such an interaction", he added.
The high Commission had organised the visits of many trade delegations from Pakistan to Kenya and accredited countries in addition to the facilities provided to the individual businessmen visiting East Africa from Pakistan and vice versa.
He added PIA passengers from Pakistan would be facilitated on arrival with visa at the airport.