Kenya and Iran have agreed to establish a joint committee tasked with eradicating trade obstacles within 60 days, paving the way for the lifting of the ban on Kenyan tea exports to Iran.
The breakthrough was reached during the 7th Session of the Kenya–Iran Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) held in Nairobi, co-chaired by Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Dr. Gholamreza Nouri Ghezalcheh, Minister of Agricultural Jihad of Iran.
The move comes in the wake of a criminal trade malpractice involving a Kenyan company, Cup of Joe Limited, which has since been deregistered by the Tea Board of Kenya and is set to face prosecution.
Investigations revealed that the firm imported low-grade tea, blended it, and re-exported it to Iran as high-grade Kenyan tea, triggering a diplomatic dispute and the subsequent ban.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Sen. Mutahi Kagwe said the two countries had agreed to draft strict regulations to prevent such criminal activity in the future and safeguard the integrity of Kenyan tea.
“Kenya’s tea sector is one of our largest foreign exchange earners, and we must protect it from unscrupulous traders who damage our reputation,” said the CS.
According to official trade statistics, Kenya exported 12.4 million kilograms of tea to Iran in 2023, valued at KSh 4.28 billion. The ban has caused significant losses to Kenyan tea farmers and exporters.
The joint committee will develop a framework to restore trust and ensure compliance with quality standards, with the ultimate goal of resuming tea exports before the end of the 60-day period.
