Kenya Relations with the Czech Republic
Diplomatic Relations
Kenya and the Czech Republic have maintained cordial relations over the years. The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is accredited to the Republic of Kenya, while the Kenya Embassy in The Hague covers the Czech Republic. Bilateral interactions between the two countries have however been growing gradually. However, there is need for increased ties through regular contacts in order to exploit the full potentials in commerce, trade, tourism, education and culture amongst others. The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic made an official visit to Kenya and met the Kenyan Minister for Foreign Affairs on 22nd September, 2011 and deliberated on the following; Development Cooperation; humanitarian Affairs; Cross Border Management; and Exchange of High-Level Officials.
Cultural Relations
The number of Czech tourists visiting Kenya has slowly been going up, rising from 1,000 in 2003 to about 5,000 in 2012. Kenya actively participates at the annual Holiday World Fair. This year the fair was held from 7th – 10th February, 2013 at the Incheba Exhibition grounds, Prague, Czech Republic. The fair was jointly organized by the Czech Ministry of Regional Development, Czech Tourism, Czech Airlines and the City of Prague.
The Czech Government offers two (2) scholarships to Kenyan students every year to study at Czech public universities. Currently there are about thirty (30) students pursuing courses mainly in medicine while in the overall, there are about 50 Kenyans living in the Czech Republic.
Trade Relations
Trade relations between Kenya and the Czech Republic have a long tradition and Kenya has always been an important trading partner in the East African region. However, the balance of trade between the two (2) countries is in favour of the Czech Republic. Czech products have gained high reputation among professionals in Kenya.
Kenya exports to the Czech Republic include coffee, cut flowers, fruit and vegetables. While imports to Kenya from the Czech Republic consist mainly of steel rods, glass beads, aircraft and their spare parts, instruments and carpets, forklifts, pharmaceuticals products, surgical equipments, lathes and agricultural inputs as well as Skoda vehicles