Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from Kenya have been urged to take advantage of the coming EAC trade fair scheduled for Kampala, Uganda between December 8 and 18.
Dubbed, ‘Buy East African to build East Africa for resilience and sustainable development’, the summit will draw over 1,500 MSMEs in trade manufacturing, agribusiness and services sector.
The country's participation will be spearheaded by the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA).
Speaking during the launch of the National Organising Committee in preparation for the 22nd EAC MSMEs trade fair, the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Simon Chelugui, called on Kenyans to capitalise on the event to showcase their products.
“This event will present an opportunity for over 350 Kenyan MSMEs to further understand the emerging market dynamic and business practices to facilitate linkages for increased trade,” Chelugui said.
He added that the forum will enable the Kenyan businesses facilitate trade exchanges among participating countries and provide a platform for launching new and improved technologies targeting both local and regional market.
The trade fair also seeks to provide an opportunity to the emerging and innovative MSMEs to access the export market as they steer towards the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Kenya’s export trade with the region in the past five years have amounted to $1.4 billion (Sh171billion).
The government seeks to further the trade by ensuring that 60 per cent of its manufactured products are exported to the region and the global market at large.
This is expected to grow the country’s export target by almost 25 per cent.
The country’s export trade is projected to rise by about 15 per cent this year from $6.08 billion (Sh742 billion) recorded last year.
MSEA director general, Henry Rithaa said they are pleased to spearhead and coordinate Kenya’s participation in the summit to enhance connection and collaboration.
“The Authority is confident that this event will give an ideal platform for promoting diversified Kenyan brands, testing newly created technologies and improving Kenya's business presence in Uganda and the neighbouring countries,” Rithaa said.
The event is annual and rotates between member states.
Kenya hosted the event in 2018 and Rwanda in 2019. There was no event in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tanzania hosted the event last year.
The regional trade fair has been used to promote cross border trade, the EAC simplified trade regime and dealing with Non-Tariff Barriers.
