The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from Kenya have been urged to take advantage of the coming EAC trade fair in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Speaking during the East African Community (EAC) regional Steering Committee meeting in preparation for the 21st EAC MSMEs trade fair, the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) director general Henry Rithaa called on Kenyans to capitalise on the event to showcase their products.
Kenya is chairing the meeting through the MSEA. The trade fair rub between December 9 and 19.
Rithaa was flanked by EAC acting director general in charge of customs and trade,Rashid Kibowa.
On Friday, they held a preparatory committee meeting. The event is annual and rotates between member states.
Kenya hosted the event in Eldoret in 2018 and Rwanda in 2019. There was no event last year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
South Sudan is expected to host the next event after Tanzania.
MSEA is a state corporation established under the Micro and Small Enterprise Act No. 55 of 2012.
It is tasked with formulating and coordinating policies that will facilitate the integration and harmonisation of various public and private sector initiatives, for the promotion, development and regulation of the Micro and Small Enterprises to become key Industries of tomorrow.
The regional trade fair has been used to promote cross border trade, the EAC simplified trade regime and dealing with Non-Tariff Barriers.
It also focuses on products value addition, Standards, Quality Assurance, Metrology and Testing (SQMT),benefits and opportunities of the EAC Integration Process to SMEs, EAC Rules of Origin, and MSMES and MSE’s development and opportunities.
