CS Amina Mohamed asks Iran to ease tea export restrictions

Amina Mohamed, the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, during a meeting with her Iran counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Tehran on August 21, 2014. PHOTO | MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

What you need to know:

  • Tea is currently one of Kenya’s main exports to Iran.
  • Tea traders were subjected to rigorous inspection and certification processes despite conforming to Good Manufacturing Practice certification.

TEHRAN

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has appealed to the Iranian government to address challenges faced by Kenyan tea exporters, especially with regard to the repatriation of profits.

Noting that tea is currently one of Kenya’s main exports to the country, amounting to about 20 per cent of Iran’s total imports, the CS expressed concern that tea exporters face difficulties in transferring proceeds from sales of tea to Kenya.

Speaking in Tehran when she met Iranian Foreign Minister Mr Mohammad Javad Zarif, the CS said tea traders were subjected to rigorous inspection and certification processes although they conformed to Good Manufacturing Practice certification.

IRANIAN ASSISTANCE

“I, therefore, appeal through you to the relevant authorities to ease the difficulties being encountered by exporters, by streamlining financial intermediation and the certification processes,” Ms Mohamed said.

“Regarding delays in receiving payments for tea shipments, we should explore other alternatives to address this challenge,” added the CS.

She expressed gratitude to the government of Iran for extending to Kenya $5 million under the Official Development Assistance to enable the government conclude projects under health, education and water.

“I am happy to inform you that to date, the Kenyan government has completed seven projects in various parts of country, thanks to this assistance”, she said.

MENACE OF TERRORISM

Observing that Kenya is faced with the menace of terrorism, Ms Mohammed sought the support of the government of Iran in stabilising Somalia to ensure that its government is able to confront acts of terror by Al-Shabaab militants.

“We seek your support and that of the international community to strengthen the capacity of the Somalia government to enable it to meet the security challenges posed by Al-Shabaab,” she said.

On the appeal from the Iranian side for the exchange of prisoners, CS Amina said the country is in the process of putting the necessary legal framework in place to enable the transfer of prisoners to serve the remainder of their sentences in their own countries.

“A Bill has been tabled before our Parliament and we hope that it will be enacted soon,” she said.

ECONOMIC SANCTIONS

Responding to the issue of payments for shipments of tea, the Iranian Foreign Minister attributed the challenge to the punitive economic sanctions imposed on the country by the international community.

He expressed optimism for a favourable outcome in the ongoing nuclear talks in Geneva that would lead to the lifting of sanctions that have impeded transnational transactions.

“In the meantime, I assure you that we are ready to explore alternatives in addressing these challenges in the best way possible in the prevailing circumstances,” said Mr Zarif.

With respect to terrorism, the Foreign Minister said Iran was also exposed to the threat of extremism from neighbouring countries.

“We have and continue to face the threat of extremism and we are ready to cooperate with Kenya in addressing this shared challenge,” said the Minister