Trade relations between Kenya and India have been growing steadily since the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement in 1981 under which both countries accorded each other the Most Favored Nation status. The Kenya – India Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was inaugurated in 1983 as a follow up to the agreement. The 1st session of the JTC was held in Nairobi, Kenya on 21st -22nd July, 2003. The two countries have since then held 9 JTC sessions, with the 9th meeting having been hosted in New Delhi-India between , 2019.
Kenya’s total exports to India in 2018 amounted to US $ 91.01 million. The main export products to India in 2018 were carbonates, medicaments, leguminous vegetables, tea, other non-ferrous base metal waste and scrap, wool, leather, articles of copper, nickel, aluminum, lead, zinc and tin among others. The exports to India increased from USD 59.82 million in 2017 to USD 91.01 million in 2018
Imports from India increased consistently from Kshs. 83 billion in 2009 to a maximum of Kshs. 264.5 billion in 2014 before decreasing through 2016 to register imports worth Kshs. 170.4 billion in 2017. In 2018, imports from India amounted to Kshs. 185.3 billion.
The balance of trade is generally in favor of India. The trade deficit hit its maximum of Kshs. 255.8 billion (USD 2.53 billion) in 2014. Currently (2018), the trade deficit stand at Kshs 176.2 billion (USD 1.76 billion) in favor of India, which is 19 times higher than the Kenya’s exports to India.
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