President Ruto hosts Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi

President William Ruto with Iran President Ebrahim Raisi at Statehouse Nairobi.[PCS]

President William Ruto on Wednesday, held bilateral discussions with the Iran President, Ebrahim Raisi, in statehouse Nairobi.

The talks aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

The visit by the Iranian President is the first in 11 years. Raisi is on a three-day tour and is also set to visit Uganda and Zimbabwe.

At the joint press briefing, President Ruto noted that Kenya and Iran are strategically situated to be each other's key points of entry into respective regions.

Thus, affirming their joint commitment to capitalize on this advantage.

President Ruto said stronger collaboration with Iran is important to the Kenya Kwanza regime as it will propel the bottom-up economic transformation agenda through delivering the agricultural value chain.

"Stronger collaboration with Iran is important for us in delivering the agricultural value chain of our bottom-up economic transformation agenda," he said.

President Ruto said that trade volumes with Iran have been on a steady upward trajectory.

"Kenya exported tea to Iran worth 28.4 million dollars in the first quarter of this year which is an eightfold increase from sales for the same period last year. Kenya attaches most significance to the Iran market since it is one of the most valued export destinations for our tea," Ruto said.

To actualize the Universal Healthcare objective of the Kenya Kwanza administration, the president said the government is keen to learn from the expertise of countries like Iran which has achieved great advancement in medicine and modern medical technology.

"Iran is already an important partner in Kenya's health services sector and maintains two health centers in Nairobi." President Ruto noted.

Kenya government is committed in fostering and protecting all investments in the country both domestic and foreign through the fair, consistent and effective application of the rule of law.

President Ruto reiterated Kenya's commitment to remain open in receiving and hosting Iranian investors and business people and providing them with a conducive business atmosphere across the country.

Ruto announced that Iran's intend to setup a motor vehicle assembly plant in Mombasa to manufacture an indigenous Iran vehicle that was given a Swahili name, "kifaru."

He said that the move will spur growth in automotive sector.

President Ruto and his Iranian counterpart Raisi also witnessed the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding ( M.O.U) on cooperation in Information communication Technology(ICT), Agriculture, Education, Mining, Tourism and Information communication Technology(ICT).

Ruto said the deal will enhance and further deepen bilateral relations between the two countries for sustainable growth and development.