KARACHI, Aug 2: Kenya is keen to import medicines and drugs from Pakistan. It also expressed its willingness to enter into joint venture to produce some of the medicines locally.

This was stated by Export Promotion Bureau chairman Tariq Ikram on his return from Kenya where he attended the Joint Ministerial Commission meeting along with Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan.

Talking to Dawn, the EPB chief said that Kenya was keen to buy pharmaceutical products from Pakistan which were good in quality and competitive in price. Mr Ikram said that Pakistan had also offered to manufacture medicines on the raw material supplied by Kenya and only take conversion cost.

He said a Kenyan minister along with technical team would be visiting Pakistan in the next two months to explore the possibility of importing medicines as well as entering into joint venture in the pharmaceutical field.

However, Pakistan has raised the issue of delay in registration of medicines and drugs in Kenya and suggested to allow temporary registration for those medicines that are being marketed in Pakistan for over five years.

The Kenyan side was also informed that three to four Pakistani pharmaceutical companies were keen to invest in Kenya for producing medicines and drugs but were facing hardships of long delay in getting registration for their products.

Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan also inaugurated the Joint Business Council (JBC), Kenyan chapter, for the private sector cooperation of both the countries. The JBC Pakistan chapter was set up in 2002.

The Kenyan government has promised to provide assistance for setting up warehouse in Kenya. The issue of visa also came under discussion with the assurance to process business visas at the earliest by the Kenyan high commission.

Mr Ikram said visas for the families of businessmen would also be given top priority and the EPB would be giving its approval along with the KCCI. The businessmen involved in setting up of warehouses in Kenya would get multiple visas to streamline the working of the project, he added.

The JMC meeting reviewed the trade relations between the two countries and expressed its satisfaction. However, it was pointed out that Kenya would have to increase imports from Pakistan to further narrow the trade gap.

Nevertheless, it was noted with satisfaction that there had been some improvement in the trade gap as exports from Pakistan increased and imports from Kenya remained static. At present around $200-225 million two-way trade is going on between both the countries.