Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Attends Opening of 7th African Tea Convention and Exhibition in Nairobi

The Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Kenya, Ruvini De Silva, attended the opening ceremony of the 7th African Tea Convention and Exhibition on 16 September 2026 at the Mövenpick Hotel in Nairobi.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, attended as Chief Guest, alongside senior government officials, the High Commissioners of Rwanda and Nigeria, members of the diplomatic corps and tea industry representatives.

The Convention brought together tea sector stakeholders from 23 countries, including Sri Lanka, to discuss developments, opportunities and emerging trends in the African and global tea industry.

Sri Lanka, internationally recognised for Ceylon Tea, participated as part of its continued engagement with the African tea sector. As major tea-producing countries, Sri Lanka and Kenya have opportunities for greater cooperation, knowledge exchange and commercial engagement in the industry.

During the event, De Silva met with tea industry representatives and stakeholders to discuss strengthening Sri Lanka-Kenya cooperation and identifying opportunities for future engagement.

The Sri Lanka High Commission’s participation forms part of its efforts to advance economic and commercial diplomacy between Sri Lanka and Kenya, particularly in areas of mutual interest including tea, trade and investment.

The High Commission also promoted opportunities for Kenyan businesses and investors to engage with Sri Lankan enterprises, including through Sri Lanka Expo 2027, scheduled to take place in Colombo in January 2027.

The Convention provided an opportunity for Sri Lanka to engage with regional tea industry stakeholders while supporting continued dialogue on potential areas of bilateral cooperation and commercial exchange.