Kenya and South Korea Agree To A Free Trade Deal
Kenya stands to gain significantly from the discussions it has begun with South Korea about the free flow of commodities to the Asian nation.
Lydia Kadima 
This was discussed privately on Thursday during a meeting between South Korean Trade Minister Dukgeun Ahn and Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria.
The two agreed to begin talks on a free trade agreement, and as part of the agreement, issues with coffee, tea, avocados and their products, cut flowers, almonds, and fresh vegetables will be addressed.
As the negotiations between the two nations advance, it states that a Trade and Investment Promotion Framework will be signed by January 31 of the following year.
The Trade and Investment Promotion Framework is anticipated to alleviate the trade imbalance that disproportionately benefits South Korea, whose exports to Kenya are approximately Sh60 billion compared to Sh3 billion in Kenya's exports to Korea.
The two ministers decided to collaborate to create a framework for cooperation between the Korean Trade Agency and the Kenya Exports Promotion and Branding Agency (Keproba) (Kotra).
Technical assistance, the installation of a Kenya International Trade Agency (Kita) office in Seoul, and the construction of Kenyan warehouses for the sale of goods in Seoul and Busan, Korea are all included in the agreement.
Kenya and South Korea decided to invest together in the Kenyan Special Economic Zones in Konza Technopolis, Dongo Kundu, Naivasha, Sagana, and the Nairobi International Financial Center at the summit.
Kenya also invited Korean businesses to take part in the first-quarter 2019 International Investment Conference in Nairobi.
The two ministers' meeting came after President William Ruto and President Yoon Suk-Yool of South Korea had a previous summit on November 23 in Seoul.
