Ambassador to Kenya holds talks at UN Office Nairobi and encourages economic ties between Latvia and Kenya

On 9-11 April 2025, the non-resident Ambassador of Latvia to the Republic of Kenya, Mr Andris Razāns paid a working visit to Kenya.

The visit entailed a briefing from the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) Mrs Zainab Hawa Bangura on the current and middle-term priorities of the office until year 2030. Following introduction to the UNON, Mr Razāns met the Deputy Executive Director of the UN Environmental programme (UNEP), Ms Elizabeth Mrema as well as Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of the UN Habitat, Mr Michal Mlynár. Deputy Head of the UNEP informed Ambassador about the ongoing work on the middle-term strategy to be adopted in autumn 2025, and Mr Mlynár elaborated on the UN Habitat strategy for the period of 2026-2029. Ambassador Razāns on this part outlined the priorities of Latvia in case elected as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council later this year.

During the visit, the Ambassador took part in the World Chamber Federation (WCF) Africa Forum in Nairobi to support the efforts of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry representatives and a business delegation to explore export possibilities and forge new contacts. While opening the Latvian-Kenyan business forum and networking event, he highlighted the Latvian ICT as well as education sectors as having great potential to complement the rapidly growing Kenyan and Eastern African region.

In meetings with officials of the Foreign Ministry of Kenya, Ambassador Razāns emphasized the importance of international cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats, affirming the interest of Latvia and the European Union in developing relations with this region.

Using the opportunity, Ambassador met with the Latvians currently living and working in Kenya and expressed hope to increase people-to-people contacts between both countries.