Kenya and Portugal Reaffirm Commitment to Deepening Bilateral Cooperation

Kenya and the Portuguese Republic have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across key sectors, as the two countries prepare to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations in January 2027.

The commitment was underscored during a courtesy call by H.E. Paulo Neves Pocinho Ambassador of the Portuguese Republic to Kenya on the Principal Secretary, State Department for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Korir Sing’Oei, at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.

The engagement provided an opportunity to review the longstanding partnership between the two countries, exchange views on areas of mutual interest and explore practical avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Kenya and Portugal established diplomatic relations on 10th January 1977. The reopening of the Portuguese Embassy in Nairobi in 2019 further demonstrated Portugal’s commitment to strengthening its diplomatic and economic engagement with Kenya and the wider region.

As the two countries approach this Golden Jubilee, Kenya expressed its interest in working with Portugal to develop a joint programme of commemorative activities that will celebrate the achievements of the past five decades while setting a renewed agenda for future cooperation.

On trade and investment, the discussions highlighted the considerable potential for expanding commercial exchanges and strengthening private-sector partnerships. Kenya welcomed the contribution of Portuguese enterprises operating in the country and encouraged greater engagement in priority sectors, including infrastructure, renewable energy, manufacturing, information and communication technology, healthcare and agriculture.

The role of the Portuguese Business Council in Kenya was also recognised as an important platform for promoting business linkages, investment opportunities and commercial partnerships between the two countries.

The Blue Economy, ocean governance and environmental sustainability featured prominently in the discussions. Kenya appreciated Portugal’s partnership in advancing sustainable marine resource management, particularly through the Go Blue Initiative, which supports coastal development, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, maritime value chains, environmental conservation and employment creation.

Kenya also acknowledged Portugal’s engagement in the 11th Ocean Conference, hosted in Mombasa, which provided an important platform for advancing international commitments on ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries, marine governance and climate resilience.

On cultural heritage and tourism, Kenya expressed appreciation for Portugal’s contribution to the preservation of historical sites, particularly through the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s support towards the restoration and conservation of Fort Jesus in Mombasa and the importance of safeguarding these shared historical assets.

The two countries further explored opportunities to strengthen educational and cultural exchanges through scholarships, vocational training and the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Portuguese Language and Culture Training.

In the multilateral sphere, Kenya congratulated Portugal on its election, alongside Austria, to serve as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term. Kenya expressed its interest in strengthening consultations with Portugal on international peace and security, sustainable development and the reform of global governance institutions.

The engagement reaffirmed the shared determination of Kenya and Portugal to translate longstanding diplomatic goodwill into concrete outcomes through sustained political dialogue, increased trade and investment, stronger institutional partnerships and expanded people-to-people exchanges.

The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs reiterated its readiness to work closely with the Embassy of Portugal in Kenya towards advancing the shared priorities of the two countries and ensuring the effective implementation of agreed areas of cooperation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Republic of Kenya.