Kenya’s Trade Minister: Nairobi to Witness Qualitative Cooperation with Saudi Arabia

Kenya’s Minister of Trade and Industry Moses Kuria (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Kenya’s Minister of Trade and Industry Moses Kuria (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Kenya’s Trade Minister: Nairobi to Witness Qualitative Cooperation with Saudi Arabia

Kenya’s Minister of Trade and Industry Moses Kuria (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Kenya’s Minister of Trade and Industry Moses Kuria (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Kenya’s Minister of Trade and Industry Moses Kuria said that Africa, and his country in particular, would not allow its resources to be exploited in the US-Chinese trade war.

He noted that Kenya looked forward to strengthening economic ties with Saudi Arabia by reviving axes of cooperation.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Kuria said that his recent visit to the Kingdom saw the signing of two agreements to increase bilateral trade and investments, which included the establishment of a joint business council and an e-commerce platform.

“In my discussions with the Saudis, I found vital ways to better bridge cooperation between the two countries, and we agreed to increase trade exchange, which amounts to $1.5 billion,” he underlined.

The Kenyan official pointed to his fruitful meetings with Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, Minister of Commerce, Engineer Khaled Al-Falih, Minister of Investment, and Yasser Al-Rumayyan, CEO of the Public Investment Fund, as well as the heads of huge companies, such as Aramco, SABIC, Maaden and Aqua Power.

“Two agreements were signed to stimulate trade and launch commercial zones between a number of regions of the Kingdom in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam,” the minister revealed, adding that the agreements also sought to attract Saudi investments in Africa and launch cooperation in banking.

He expected his country to market Saudi products, such as petrochemicals and fertilizers, not only to Kenya, but also to promising African markets with a population of about 1.3 billion.

The logistics services center in Mombasa is one of the most important achievements of the Saudi-Kenyan agreements, Kuria emphasized, adding: “We are about to discover great opportunities and new areas for qualitative cooperation between the two countries.”

Expanding economic cooperation

The Kenyan Minister of Trade and Industry met with the Saudi business sector at the headquarters of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, where he discussed series of proposals to strengthen and develop his country’s economic ties with the Kingdom.

Those include the establishment of a joint business council, an e-commerce platform, an economic cooperation committee, and incentives for Saudi companies to invest in special economic zones, infrastructure and energy projects in Kenya.

Kuria stressed the importance of establishing a joint Saudi-Kenyan committee for trade and investment cooperation, calling on Saudi companies to invest in electricity, water, roads, housing, communications, mining, financial center, hotels, airports, animal production projects, and others.

Stimulating development opportunities

The Kenyan minister told Asharq Al-Awsat that he discussed with the Executive Director of the Operations Sector of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), Eng. Faisal Al-Qahtani, the Kingdom’s efforts to support development projects and programs in his country, with the aim of achieving sustainable development goals.

Saudi Arabia has provided, through the SFD, 13 projects and development programs in the transportation, communications, energy, agriculture, health and water sectors since 1978, through soft development loans with a total value exceeding $163 million, in addition to a grant provided by Riyadh to Nairobi through the Fund.

Kuria said he reviewed with the Federation of Saudi Chambers ways to develop systems and legislation, closely identify the needs of the private sector, and work to enhance the confidence of merchants and consumer protection.

He emphasized the most important challenges facing the private sector with regard to the implementation of technical regulations and standards and obtaining a certificate of conformity and a quality mark.

The US-Chinese trade war

Commenting on the US-Chinese race to acquire investment shares in African economic resources, Kuria stressed that African countries, including Kenya, have economic and investment relations with both Washington and Beijing, as is the case with other states in the world.

The minister said he believed that Washington’s prioritization of Africa in its policies, as seen in the recent American-African summit, was built on the huge natural and human potential available in the African Continent.

Similarly, Kuria noted that China found important economic and investment opportunities in African countries, expecting many Chinese companies to enter African markets with the aim to increase investments in the continent.

“There are no limits to African cooperation with China and America,” he said.

He continued: “Africa’s interest requires dealing with everyone without subjecting its will to one party at the expense of another.”

He stressed that the common objective was the exchange of interests and expertise, and benefiting from the capabilities available to all sides.

Kuria said that the world should deal with African countries according to the developments of the stage, as the continent is no longer just a bloc occupied by crises and diseases.

The world has finally discovered that Africa is very rich economically and enjoys great, diversified and vital investment opportunities thanks to its vast fertile lands and abundant water suitable for the largest agricultural and food production in the world, he underlined.



SAL, Sela Sign SAR4 Billion Agreement to Establish Logistics Zone North of Riyadh

The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser, General Authority of Civil Aviation President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, Saudi Falcons Club CEO Talal bin Abdulaziz Al-Shamaisi, and several officials, investors, and business leaders. (SPA)
The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser, General Authority of Civil Aviation President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, Saudi Falcons Club CEO Talal bin Abdulaziz Al-Shamaisi, and several officials, investors, and business leaders. (SPA)
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SAL, Sela Sign SAR4 Billion Agreement to Establish Logistics Zone North of Riyadh

The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser, General Authority of Civil Aviation President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, Saudi Falcons Club CEO Talal bin Abdulaziz Al-Shamaisi, and several officials, investors, and business leaders. (SPA)
The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser, General Authority of Civil Aviation President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, Saudi Falcons Club CEO Talal bin Abdulaziz Al-Shamaisi, and several officials, investors, and business leaders. (SPA)

The SAL Saudi Logistics Services Company and Sela Company signed an agreement in Riyadh to launch the SAR4-billion SAL Logistics Zone, covering more than 1.5 million square meters within the Falcons City project north of Riyadh, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

The initiative aligns with their joint efforts to boost strategic partnerships, support the logistics sector, and boost the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser, General Authority of Civil Aviation President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, Saudi Falcons Club CEO Talal bin Abdulaziz Al-Shamaisi, and several officials, investors, and business leaders.

Falcon City, for which the agreement was signed by SAL CEO Omar bin Talal Hariri and Sela Managing Director Rakan Al-Harthy, enhances the appeal of the Malham area north of Riyadh.

Home to the Saudi Falcons Club, one of the region’s most prominent cultural and heritage landmarks, the area has contributed to tourism and cultural activities through its programs, events, and international initiatives. This integration of economic projects with heritage activities attracts visitors and investors while reinforcing the area’s status as a comprehensive destination that blends a modern economy with the preservation of Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage.

Hariri stressed that the new logistics zone will significantly bolster the company’s capabilities due to its strategic location near King Khalid International Airport, major highways, and rail networks connecting various regions of the Kingdom. This will solidify its position as a comprehensive hub for shipping and distribution operations, further supporting Saudi Arabia’s role as a key global trade center.

He noted that the SAR4-billion investment in developing a model logistics zone aligns with SAL’s strategic plan to strengthen its leadership as a national logistics provider that adheres to the highest global standards. The zone will feature high-quality, Category A warehouses and storage spaces designed to meet diverse requirements.

Falcons City represents an advanced model of integrated cities, spanning 14.4 million square meters in the Malham area north of Riyadh. Its strategic location ensures easy accessibility and includes key facilities such as the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, a state-of-the-art logistics zone attracting major global companies, an aviation runway, and an aircraft maintenance area, all of which enhance air transport and cargo efficiency.

The project also features economic, commercial, residential, hospitality, and entertainment zones, along with an outlet mall to attract investors, residents, and visitors.