Eurasia Press & News
TEHRAN (FNA)- Kenya may seek help from Iran to boost its electricity production, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said during talks with the visiting Iranian Agricultural Jihad Minister, Mohammed Reza Eskandari, on Tuesday.
Noting that there was a big scope for cooperation between the two countries, Odinga said Kenya was seeking development partners to boost its inefficient 10,000 MW electricity production to 40,000 in the next 10 years.
Kenya has also recently expressed interest in Ethiopian power supply.
The premier said Kenya was also interested in Iran’s agricultural revolution that had seen the tonnage of its annual agricultural production rise from 25 million to over 100 million.
Odinga said Kenya was not only seeking for investment in railway, communication, livestock and water but also wanted to develop its arid and semi-arid areas.
He also said Kenya was keen to fast track development in the previously neglected vast Northern Kenya.
“We want more investment on roads and abattoirs to boost beef export in the region”, said the PM, who also noted that Kenya wanted to expand its manpower development by establishing more public universities and technical colleges.
The Kenyan premier said Iran and Kenya had strong historical ties lasting for thousands of years.
“Persian historical artifacts have been in our local museums following years of trade with the people of Iran,” he said.
For his part, the Iranian minister said due to its technological advancement resulted from the western sanctions after its Islamic Revolution, Iran had already initiated five Joint Commissions with African countries in agriculture, transportation and health.
The two also discussed possibilities of cooperation in fertilizer and motor production.
“Iran can help Kenya produce cars and tractors if an agreement can be accelerated,” Eskandari said.
Iran has already initiated motor production in Venezuela and Senegal.
Iran’s electric production is estimated at over 140,000 MW and is produced in different power plants, among them thermal and chemical.
