Business

Kenya hopes to shine at Chinese fair

Friday, September 4th, 2020 00:00 | By
Agriculture Cabinet secretary Peter Munya. Photo/File

Kenya will leverage its participation at the upcoming China International Fair for Trade in Services to boost a post-Coronavirus (Covid-19) recovery through increased exports of goods and services to the Asian nation, a government official has said.

Wilfred Marube, chief executive officer of Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency, said participation at the services trade fair, scheduled for September 4 to 9, will revitalise commercial ties and hasten economic recovery after the coronavirus-induced downturn.

“Trade in services is critical in increasing international trade as well as enhance the growth of trade in goods.

Trade in services makes an important contribution to the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises also,” Marube said in an interview.

“This is a strategic event for Kenyan service providers to participate, especially those in the fields of transport and logistics, financial services, education and health,” he added.

Kenyan officials and investors will attend the international trade fair in China to showcase the East African nation’s potential as an attractive investment destination, according to the official.

Market dynamics

“The vibrancy and its internal market dynamics make China a potential market for Kenya’s exports.

We can tap the potential for trade growth of both countries, to raise the quality and level of bilateral trade,” he said.

Marube said China’s trade fair will also provide an opportunity for Kenya to increase its export portfolio to China amid the pandemic. 

According to Marube, Kenya will utilise the trade fair to help boost market access for key products like tea, avocados, vegetables and cut flowers. 

The fair, he added, will provide a platform to bolster trade in key services like health, information and communications technology, logistics, banking and insurance.

Marube said that China has become one of the leading consumers of tourism products in Kenya, adding that the trade fair will present an opportunity to showcase the country’s scenic attractions. 

He said that Nairobi will strengthen compliance with international health protocols to ensure that exports to China minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

According to Marube, Kenya will comply with “the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements” to boost the export of fresh produce to China and develop an online portal to showcase its products and services. 

Harness opportunities

He said Nairobi also wants to harness opportunities provided by China’s major e-commerce platforms to increase exports to the Asian Nation, adding: "China is a future market for Kenya and therefore we continue doing business as we grow our key exports to the market.” 

Meanwhile, Kenya has launched the first Agribusiness Partnership Platform Framework to streamline engagement with the private sector.

Peter Munya, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary said the framework will facilitate private sector investments in the agricultural value chains.

“We want to ensure that all relevant stakeholders ranging from national and county governments, large and small scale private sector players, development partners and civil society are involved in the framework,” Munya said during a virtual forum in Nairobi. – Xinhua

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