By Njoroge David 
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi
Kenya and Australia are exploring ways to elevate their bilateral relations to an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) following a visit by Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the two-day visit included discussions on trade, investment, agriculture, mining, tourism, maritime security, and climate change.
He said Kenya wants Australia to increase investment while opening its markets to Kenyan goods to improve the trade balance, currently in Australia’s favour
“We are keen to deepen our cooperation in mining, agriculture and livestock management, particularly on ranching, to benefit from Australia’s robust sector expertise,” said Mudavadi
He urged the Australian government to tap into Kenya’s youthful and trained workforce to drive its economy and added that both countries agreed on the need to secure the Indian Ocean for trade and increase investment in the blue economy, which supports vibrant communities and ecosystems
The meeting took place at the Railways Headquarters Offices in Nairobi, with Mudavadi describing the talks as a continuation of six decades of diplomatic ties between the two countries
“The discussions focused on mutual bilateral and multilateral collaboration, attracting more Australian investors to Kenya while encouraging market access for Kenyan products,” noted Mudavadi
Thistlethwaite’s visit comes amid growing interest in strengthening trade ties and exploring cooperation in climate change, conservation, sports, and labour migration.
