Ukraine seeks to boost trade ties amidst Russia war

Ukraine is aggressively looking to reignite trade ties with Africa as the country makes a comeback despite the Russian aggression. The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Bureau Of Women Parliamentarians, Lesia Vasylenko, led a Ukrainian delegation to Kenya with the aim of enhancing cooperation across various sectors. Vasylenko highlighted the importance of intensifying economic, political, cultural, and social humanitarian relations between Ukraine and Kenya. She emphasized the significant role that Africa, including Kenya, plays in importing Ukrainian grain, despite the ongoing conflict with Russia. Vasylenko also shed light on Ukraine's advancements in military technology, particularly the adaptability of drones for civilian purposes, such as surveillance and delivery services. She expressed optimism about Ukraine's ability to export this technology to East African countries, create jobs, and address various challenges on the African continent. While acknowledging the decline in trade numbers between Ukraine and Kenya in recent years, Vasylenko remained hopeful that sectors like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and digital exports could drive growth and lead to a resurgence in bilateral trade. She stressed the importance of both countries diversifying their trade partnerships to mitigate risks associated with dependence on a single market. Vasylenko also mentioned Ukraine's interest in collaborating with Kenya on environmental issues, drawing inspiration from Kenya's goal to achieve 100 percent climate neutrality by 2030. The memorandum of understanding signed between Ukraine and Kenya in the space exploration sector signifies a step towards deeper cooperation and the establishment of strong bilateral ties between the two nations. Through engaging with Kenyan government officials, parliamentarians, and other key stakeholders, Ukraine aims to pave the way for enhanced political understanding, economic collaboration, and overall friendship between the two countries.