Kenya courts Portuguese investors, pushes trade expansion and protection of oceans in high-level talks

Kenya has intensified efforts to attract foreign investment and expand trade opportunities following high-level bilateral talks with Portugal, with leaders from both countries pledging to unlock economic potential and strengthen cooperation across key sectors.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the Nairobi meeting with Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel focused heavily on boosting trade volumes, which remain significantly below potential.
“Notably, our trade volumes have historically been low; consequently, Kenya and Portugal recognize the imperative to maximise the immense potential that exists between our two economies,” Mudavadi said.
To address this gap, the two countries agreed to strengthen collaboration between trade institutions, including ministries and business councils and to promote joint forums and trade missions aimed at facilitating direct engagement between investors and enterprises.
Mudavadi said Kenya is positioning itself as a strategic entry point for Portuguese investors seeking access to Africa’s fast-growing markets, highlighting the country’s connectivity and regional integration advantages.
“Kenya is strategically positioned as the gateway to East and Central Africa… In this context, we invite Portuguese investors to choose Nairobi as their anchor for investment in the wider African market,” he said.
He noted that Kenya offers access to a combined market of more than 300 million people within the East African Community, as well as the broader African Continental Free Trade Area, which encompasses over 1.3 billion consumers.
The talks also underscored the importance of leveraging existing frameworks such as the Kenya-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement to accelerate trade and economic growth between the two nations.
Beyond trade, Kenya is seeking to deepen sector-specific investments, particularly in the blue economy, which emerged as a priority area during the discussions.
The two countries committed to expanding collaboration in sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, maritime transport, and ocean governance.
This builds on previous cooperation, including joint involvement in the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon and sets the stage for further engagement during the upcoming Our Ocean Conference 2026 in Mombasa.
"We have to work towards protecting oceans from threats of pollution and climate change. This is part of the progress in advancing sustainable food security." said Rangel.
On labour mobility, the leaders highlighted progress in facilitating travel and workforce exchange, pointing to the recent opening of a Portuguese visa processing centre in Nairobi as a step toward easing movement between the two countries.
“Kenya and Portugal agreed to continue exploring mutually beneficial frameworks that facilitate skills mobility and protect the rights and welfare of our citizens abroad,” Mudavadi said.
At the multilateral level, Kenya is also leveraging the partnership to push for broader global reforms. The two countries expressed alignment on the need to strengthen international cooperation and reform global institutions to better address emerging challenges.
“They have agreed to continue working together to push for reforms of the international financial architecture and the United Nations Security Council to better address crises such as regional conflicts, climate change and debt vulnerabilities,” the statement said.
Climate and energy cooperation also featured prominently, with both sides pledging to enhance collaboration in renewable energy development, climate finance and nature-based solutions. Mudavadi highlighted Kenya’s growing leadership role in global climate action under President William Ruto.

"The Ocean agenda and climate action and financing are a top priority for us. We want to deepen the dialogue and investment in Africa, building partnerships that will help us have a credible voice ti balance the ongoing geopolitical debate." said Rangel.
Security cooperation remains another pillar of the partnership, with Kenya and Portugal reaffirming their commitment to diplomacy and joint efforts to address instability in regions such as the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes.
"We have made progress that calls for action and follow up. We are calling on the private sector to come on board and support us." said Rangel.
Mudavadi also acknowledged Portugal’s contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions, particularly in South Sudan, noting that such engagements are critical in promoting regional stability.