JOINT TRADE COMMITTEE TO MEET AT NAIROBI ON 29-30TH NOVEMBER

        Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, is leaving for Kenya today for the 4^th meeting of Joint Trade Committee (JTC) to be held at Nairobi (Kenya) on 29-30^th November, 2001. The Indian delegation led by Shri Rudy includes Shri Gurjeet Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs and Dr.A.R.Goyal, Deputy Secretary, Department of Commerce. Shri R.K.Bhatia, High Commissioner of India and Shri L.D.Ralte, Deputy High Commissioner of India to Kenya would also join the Indian delegation at Nairobi.

        During the visit the Indian side would offer Kenya cooperation in power, telecom sector and cooperation in drugs and pharmaceuticals. Besides a MOU is also likely to be signed between both the countries in the areas of electronics and computer software. Kenyan delegation would be led by Mr.Mohamad Abdi Mahamud, Assistant Minister for Trade & Industry. Shri Rudy would call on Kenyan Minister for Planning and also the Transport & Communications Minister during his visit. India’s exports to Kenya during 2000-2001 were Rs.636 crore registering a growth of around 22% over the previous year. The main items of India’s exports to Kenya are machinery & instruments, rubber manufactured products, manufactures of metals, glassware, inorganic and agro-chemicals etc. India’s imports from Kenya during 2000-2001 were around Rs85 crore. The principal items of imports are cashewnut, precious and semi-precious crude minerals and raw wool.

        The Minister would also review the work done by the commercial wings of seven Indian Missions in Eastern African Countries in order to find ways and means to improve our trade with Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles. Head of Indian Missions and Commercial Representatives from these seven countries would be participating in the meeting on 3^rd December 2001 to be chaired by Shri Rudy.