The Egyptian trade mission to Kenya aims at enhancing trade and economic relations between the two countries, First Trade and Industry Ministry Undersecretary Ahmed Antar said Sunday, referring to arrangements made ahead of the mission in cooperation with the Trade Office in Nairobi and the Egyptian-Kenyan Business Council and a number of Expolink officials.

The office's efforts have contributed to increasing the value of Egyptian exports to the Kenyan market by 15% in 2016 compared with 2015 reaching around dlrs 268 million, he said in a statement on behalf of Trade and Industry Minister Tarek Qabil.

This has led to an increase in the balance of trade surplus in Egypt's favor by 42% in 2016, compared with 2015 which only stood at dlrs 84 million.

Egypt's increasing exports to Kenya include paper and paper products, glass and glass products, chemical products, soap, detergents, machines and electric devices, various processed food, processed vegetables, sewing threads and vegetable oil, he added.