Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe wrapped up his tour of the United States with new opportunities for Kenya’s agricultural exports and large-scale investment deals.

In talks with United States Africa Trade Desk (USATD) CEO Gavin Van Der Burgh, CS Kagwe secured a pledge to expand the presence of Kenyan agricultural products in U.S. retail markets, boosting visibility on store shelves and driving stronger demand for Kenyan produce.

USATD also committed to financing Kenyan exporters to help them meet the high export volumes required by expanded retail distribution.

CS Kagwe said the financial support will stabilize supply chains and give exporters the capacity to grow.

Addressing American stakeholders, he called for U.S. investors to invest in large-scale agriculture and agro-processing in Kenya, focusing on wheat, yellow maize, and rice.

He indicated that the investments could transform Kenya into an exporter from a net importer of key staples, enhancing both food security and trade competitiveness.

CS Mutahi Kagwe also held talks with Tara Nathan, Executive Vice President of Mastercard, at the Kenya Consulate in New York. Their discussions focused on helping farmers register as businesses so they can access credit.

They agreed that Kenya and Mastercard will explore the creation of a centralized Agriculture Information and Resource Centre (AIRC) to consolidate farmer data, enhance transparency, and create personalized financial solutions for farmers.

Kenya also committed to working with South Carolina State University 1890 Research & Extension in providing training, knowledge exchange, research on new crop breeds, and extension services.

Kagwe said the collaboration would enhance Kenya’s potential to produce drought-resistant crops in addition to developing a human resource base for the agricultural sector.

The mission also saw the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce (SCAACC), with over 15,000 businesses as members, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The agreement, signed by Simon Kariuki Nyagah (KNCCI Diaspora Chair) and Stephen Gilchrist (SCAACC Chair), paves the way for stronger trade, deeper investment ties, and broader business collaboration between the two regions.