The government of Kenya and Iran have agreed to establish a joint committee tasked with eradicating trade obstacles within 60 days, paving the way for the lifting of the ban on Kenyan tea exports to Iran.
The agreement was reached during the 7th Session of the Kenya-Iran Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) held in Nairobi on Tuesday, co-chaired by Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Dr. Gholamreza Nouri Ghezalcheh, Minister of Agricultural Jihad of Iran.
The joint committee will develop a framework to restore trust and ensure compliance with tea quality standards, with the ultimate goal of resuming tea exports before the end of the 60-day period.
The move comes in the wake of alleged criminal trade malpractice involving a Kenyan company, which has since been deregistered by the Tea Board of Kenya.
Investigations revealed that the firm imported low-grade tea, blended it, and re-exported it to Iran as high-grade Kenyan tea, triggering a diplomatic dispute and the subsequent ban.
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CS Kagwe said the two countries have agreed to draft strict regulations to prevent unlawful activities in future and safeguard the integrity of tea produced in Kenya.
The CS said Kenya’s tea sector is one of the highest foreign exchange earners, and the government must protect it from unscrupulous traders who damage the country’s reputation.
Iran is among the top ten importers of Kenyan tea. In 2024, data collated by the Tea Board of Kenya indicated that the country imported 13 million kilograms worth Sh4.26 billion. Pakistan is the leading importer of Kenyan tea, accounting for 34.7% of total export volumes worth Sh70 billion.
By Our Reporter
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