Kenyan firm signs lucrative meat deal with UAEBy PONCIANO ODONGO | Friday, April 27  2012 at  11:09

The Kenya Meat Commission is set to increase its export to the Middle East following the signing of an agreement with two companies based in the United Arabs Emirates.

The two, Global Foods and Blue Mountain Food, signed the agreement on Thursday at the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) Athi River factory after a familiarisation tour.

The two companies import meat and other food products to the United Arabs Emirates (UAE).

Under the deal, KMC will supply 15.5 tonnes of calf, goat and sheep products six days a week for the next one year.

The investors have also promised to build strong working relations with KMC to enable it attain the required capacity and standards.

This follows an earlier deal struck by the Kenyan government, UAE and other Gulf states during a Gulf Food Export conference in Dubai this year.

Expensive

The conference was attended by Livestock minister Mohamed Kuti and top officials from the ministry.

“We are ready to help KMC expand its market to other Arab countries,” said Mr Khalifa Alzaffin, chairman of Blue Mountain Foods.

He said his company was looking at the meat market in Arab countries to help KMC boost its capacity.

“We promise to assist in marketing and distribution of quality products in the competitive Dubai and other markets in Arab countries,” he said.

The investors, however, lamented that KMC’s organic products, though of good quality, are expensive.

“We have an issue with the price but we will work together to harmonise this,” said Mr Alzaffin.

The investors were flanked by the Director, Middle East Directorate Ambassador, Mr Ali Abbas, from the ministry of Foreign Affairs and top Kenya Meat Commission officials.