𝗠𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗶 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗺𝗮𝗻
𝗡𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶 𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 – A delegation from the Makueni County Government has held a courtesy meeting with H.E. Ambassador Nasra Salim Mohamed Alhashmi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Republic of Kenya, to explore ways of lifting the ban on Kenyan mango exports to Oman and restoring market access for Kenyan mango producers.
The meeting focused on addressing outstanding phytosanitary concerns that led to the suspension of Kenyan mango imports into Oman, particularly concerns relating to mango weevil infestation.
During the engagement, Ambassador Alhashmi emphasised the importance of strengthened collaboration between the two countries, urging the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry to engage relevant stakeholders in resolving the matter and restoring trade relations.
Makueni presented a practical solution, proposing that exports to Oman be sourced from its more than 4,000 hectares of low-pest-pressure mango production zones,with source traceability to ensure that exported mangoes meet the required phytosanitary standards.
The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) confirmed the existence of recognised pest-free production zones in Makueni that could support the initiative.
The Embassy welcomed the market opportunity, highlighting demand for Kenyan mangoes in the Middle East, particularly the Makueni Apple variety. The different mango production seasons in Kenya and Oman also present an opportunity for Kenyan exports to fill supply gaps in the Omani market.
The Governor committed to engaging the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to address the outstanding issues and unlock programmes necessary to restore market access.
Makueni County technical teams will now work with their counterparts at the Ministry to develop a coordinated action plan towards resolving the phytosanitary concerns and operationalising the proposed export model.
The initiative seeks to restore Kenya’s access to the Omani market, expand opportunities for mango farmers and strengthen bilateral trade between Kenya and Oman.
