Kenya and Brazil have opened a new round of discussions aimed at deepening trade and investment cooperation, as both countries seek to reduce exposure to volatility in traditional export markets shaped by rising global tariffs.
The talks were formalized through the Kenya–Brazil Economic Cooperation Forum held in Nairobi, according to information released by Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
The forum brought together senior government officials, investment promotion agencies, and private sector representatives from both countries.
The timing of the meeting was closely linked to broader shifts in global trade. With the United States expanding tariffs across multiple sectors, emerging economies are increasingly reassessing long-established supply chains and pursuing alternative trade corridors, particularly through South–South partnerships.
For Kenya and Brazil, officials described the forum as a strategic exercise rather than a ceremonial engagement. Kenya’s delegation was led by John Mwendwa, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Kenya, who held engagements with more than 26 Brazilian companies and over 40 Kenyan firms.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the government said the discussions reflected Kenya’s intent to convert investor interest into viable, bankable projects, while offering a seamless, transparent, and predictable investment environment.
The forum took place against a backdrop of growing trade disruption. New and proposed U.S. tariffs have raised costs for exporters worldwide and unsettled supply chains that had remained largely stable for decades, prompting countries like Brazil and Kenya to look beyond traditional partners.
Brazil, which exported goods valued at approximately Ksh43.5 trillion in 2024, is accelerating efforts to diversify its trade relationships. Kenya, meanwhile, is working to reduce reliance on a narrow set of export destinations and commodities.
Despite cordial diplomatic ties, bilateral trade volumes remain modest. In 2024, Kenya exported goods worth about Ksh154.8 million to Brazil, while imports from Brazil stood at Ksh21.71 million. Officials from both sides characterized the imbalance not as a weakness, but as evidence of largely untapped potential.
“This trade profile highlights opportunities to diversify exports, deepen cooperation, and build joint value chains,” said Cynthia Nyawira, Director at the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Kenya has identified Brazil as a strategic partner due to its strengths in agribusiness, manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and technology. Officials also pointed to existing cooperation, including Brazil’s involvement in the Cotton Victoria Project, which has supported cotton farming and improved agricultural practices in East Africa.
The talks also intersected with concerns around global food security. According to the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, more than 295 million people across 53 countries experienced crisis-level hunger in 2024, driven largely by climate shocks and economic instability.
Kenyan officials argued that closer cooperation between large-scale agricultural producers such as Brazil and regional logistics and trade hubs like Kenya could help stabilize supply chains and reduce vulnerability to disruptions exacerbated by tariffs.
Jorge Viana, President of ApexBrasil, highlighted opportunities for collaboration across tea, textiles and apparel, fisheries, agro-processing, renewable energy, and green technologies. He said Kenya’s comparative advantages aligned well with Brazilian industrial capacity and evolving market demand.
Institutional coordination was another key outcome of the forum. The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency and ApexBrasil confirmed plans to formalize cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding, though internal approval processes have delayed its signing.
The agreement is expected to facilitate two-way trade, improve market intelligence sharing, and support integration into global value chains.
Officials also positioned the Kenya International Investment Conference 2026 as a follow-up platform to translate dialogue into concrete investment commitments, as global trade tensions continue to reshape capital flows and partnership strategies.
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