Indonesia To Assist Kenya Attain Self-sufficiency In Palm, Sunflower Production

NAIROBI Kenya July 6 -The world’s largest producer of palm oil, Indonesia, will assist Kenya to attain self-sufficiency in edible oils through large scale farming of palm, sunflower and soya beans.

A delegation of leading Indonesian government and private companies is expected in Nairobi starting July 11 to discuss with President William Ruto and Cabinet Secretaries Moses Kuria (Investments, Trade and Industry) and Mithika Linturi (Agriculture) an agreement for end to end development of the edible oil industry.

The talks will be centered around supporting farmers in selected counties of Lamu, Kwale, Tana River, Taita Taveta, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu and Busia through an outgrowth scheme as well large scale plantation farming.

Kenya currently imports crude palm oil worth USD 1 billion annually through five companies -Bidco, Kapa Oil, Pwani Oil, Menengai and Golden Africa.

Last December, there was an outcry from consumers when the prices of edible oil skyrocketed to Sh480 per litre forcing the government to import edible oil through the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) thus reducing the retail price by more than a half to Sh220 per litre currently.

The Indonesian delegation will be led by Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan who coordinates 7 Ministries in President Jokowi’s government.

This is the second time in six months that Minister Luhut is visiting Kenya after his talks with President Ruto in January.

President Ruto dispatched CS Kuria who led a reciprocal senior government delegation to Jakarta in May. Minister Luhut’s visit is expected to prepare ground for a state visit by President Jokowi in August.

The delegation will also include government and private companies keen to invest in other sectors including Blue Economy, Mining, Meat and Livestock, Apparels and Textiles, Geothermal Energy, Petroleum Refinery and Exploration, Sugar farming as well as Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.