By Stephen Rwembeho
Officials from Trans Nzoia County in Kenya have expressed interest in buying granite tiles and pineapples from the Eastern Province, following two days of talks.
Trans Nzoia County is located in the former Rift Valley Province. The officials have been in the country to forge partnerships with the Eastern Province leadership.
The delegation led by County Speaker David Sifuna, toured the East Africa Granite Industry (EAGI) and the Akagera National Park, among others.
The two regions later signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will guide their cooperation.
“The granite tiles are essential for the ongoing construction activities in our county… you know it’s still virgin and we are building. We shall make arrangements as soon as we get home,” he said on Saturday.
Sifuna added that the Kenyans would also import pineapples from Rwanda, adding that the prices were unbelievably low compared to Kenya.
“Where as in Trans Nzoia, a pineapple costs an equivalent of Rwf3,500, I found it at just Rwf200 in Rwanda… we shall thus, no doubt start importing the pineapples too,” Sifuna said.
The county whose economic activities include horticulture, wheat, tea, coffee and fishing, is considered one of the most food secure regions in Kenya.
Odette Uwamariya, the Governor of Eastern Province reiterated the need to maximise trade cooperation between the regions.
She said Trans Nzoia had a lot to emulate, when it comes to professional agriculture and farming.
Source: All Africa