Cyprus opens High Commission in Nairobi
Cyprus has formally opened its High Commission in Nairobi, which coincided with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on political and diplomatic consultations.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr. Musalia Mudavadi who attended the inauguration at the invitation of the visiting Cyprus minister for Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos said this reaffirmed the commitment to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
Dr. Mudavadi stated that the establishment of the Cypriot High Commission in Nairobi established a solid foundation for enhanced engagement, expanded cooperation, and deeper dialogue.
“This gesture underscores our collective resolve to unlock new opportunities for economic growth, tackle shared challenges, and foster meaningful people-to-people connections, building on the political cooperation agreement framework we signed earlier today.” he said.
The Ministers recognized the untapped potential in the Kenya-Cyprus bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to exploring tangible outcomes for the benefit of the citizens.
Kenya and Cyprus have agreed to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, education, and tourism, expanding scholarships and capacity-building programs for Kenyans. Discussions also centred on the development of a comprehensive framework on labor mobility to streamline access to employment opportunities for youth in both countries. The leaders also sought to deepen cooperation in the Maritime, Blue Economy, and Shipping sectors where Kenya's tourism sector seeks to leverage its significant rebound witnessed in 2024, with international arrivals exceeding 2.4 million and earnings projected at Kshs. 452.20 billion, marking a 19.79% increase.
Minister Kombos lauded Kenya’s conducive and welcoming environment for diplomacy, noting that Nairobi continued to cement its place as a leading regional hub for international engagement and business.
Meanwhile, Kenya is in the final stages of developing its implementation strategy for the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), with a focus on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), Trade and Sustainable Development, and the Harmonization of Customs and Digital Trade Facilitation.
As a member of the European Union, Cyprus has pledged to support Kenya in aligning its regulatory frameworks and technical standards with EU requirements, particularly in sectors where Kenya has strong export potential. This partnership is expected to strengthen Kenya’s access to European markets and enhance the competitiveness of its goods and services.
To complement these efforts, Cyprus expressed its readiness to provide technical expertise and capacity-building support in key areas such as digital customs modernization, border technology, and trade facilitation systems. These investments remain crucial to streamlining Kenya’s trade processes, reducing bottlenecks, and enabling smoother compliance with EU standards. With this collaborative approach, both countries aim to ensure that Kenya fully benefits from the EPA and is well-positioned to take advantage of emerging trade opportunities within the European Union.
Kenya and Cyprus have agreed to strengthen their shared interests and commitment to multilateralism and rules-based international order. The two countries will also broaden their perspective on global collaboration and expedite pending Memorandums of Understanding in higher education, research, agriculture, livestock development, Bilateral Air Services Agreement, and the Avoidance of Double Taxation.