Kenya and Iran have signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) paving way for enhanced bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

This follows a state visit to Kenya by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, on Wednesday.

The first MoU was between Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture its Iranian counterpart on cooperation in the field of animal health and livestock production.

The MoU aims to provide for mutual cooperation to control, prevent, and eradicate animal diseases, promote surveillance, and facilitate trade in commodities referred to in the terrestrial and the aquatic animal health Code Books of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). The second MoU was between Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage and its Iranian counterpart on cooperation in the field of culture and heritage.

This MoU seeks to establish a framework through which the parties may collaborate on the basis of equality and mutual benefit to facilitate and strengthen cooperation in the field of culture.

The third MoU was between Kenya’s Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs and Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture-Jihad on cooperation in the Fisheries sector.

Under this memorandum, Kenya and Iran set the principles and means of implementation of the areas of cooperation in the field of fisheries and aquaculture.

The fourth MoU was between Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy and its Iranian counterpart on cooperation in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

The last MoU was between Kenya’s Ministry of Education and Iran’s Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare on Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET).\

The MoU seeks to establish a framework for closer cooperation for mutual benefit in the fields of exchanging educational experiences, training of trainers, educational consultancy, vocational education and training, and equipping TVET centers.

President Raisi’s visit to Kenya is part of a three-day trip to Africa that will see the Iranian leader visit Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe in what Tehran has touted as a new beginning in relations with the continent.