Nairobi, Sept 15 - Kenyan exports to Japan will rise after its agricultural products are certified for sale there next month, Kenya's agriculture minister said on Friday.
Trade between the two nations favours Tokyo, with Japanese exports to Kenya valued at 41 billion shillings ($576.6 million) last year, compared with 1.3 billion shillings the other way.
East Africa's biggest economy imports industrial goods and machinery from Japan, while Tokyo mostly buys Kenyan agricultural produce.
"Certification of our products as good for the Japanese market will significantly influence the imbalance in trade," William Ruto told reporters in Nairobi.
"We will have 120 million people (the population of Japan) with real purchasing power who can access our products."
He said efforts to increase sales of horticultural products, coffee, tea and other produce to Japan began in July when Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki visited Tokyo.
Ruto said another Kenyan delegation would travel to Japan next month to conclude the certification process. Kibaki wants to expand trade ties with several Far Eastern countries.