The Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry will continue working with foreign missions and international partners to support local businesses.
KNCCI president Richard Ngatia on Monday said they value partnerships geared towards improving Kenya's business environment.
“We shall continue working with our partners, including the embassies in supporting the business community to thrive. It is important to highlight the direction we want as an institution,” Ngatia said during the chamber's National Governing Council meeting in Nairobi.
Ngatia said the partnerships have built and contributed to a vibrant business community.
The meeting shared the progress report and the chamber’s accomplishments in 2021 and initiatives and development plans in the New Year.
Vice president Eric Rutto said KNCCI works closely with different embassies in the country and their support and cooperation had enhanced international trade.
Among the invited guests were ambassadors Jafar Barmaki (Iran), Pavel Vziatkin (Belarus) and Mohamed Saripudin of Indonesia and the chief guest at the event. The meeting was sponsored by the embassies of Belarus and Indonesia.
Ambassador Saripudin said his mission is committed to supporting both Kenya and Indonesia Chambers of Commerce in their endeavour to boost trade in the two countries.
“In 2018, Indonesia started to become more aggressive to look to Africa, especially Kenya, as the hub of the East African region. Since then, Indonesia has convened several initiatives in bolstering cooperation with Africa,” he said.
He said Indonesia held its first Indonesia-Africa Forum in 2018, which resulted in 18 Indonesian and African business entities signing 10 agreements valuing $500 million.
“In 2021, the embassy connected many Kenyan and Indonesian businesses, namely in pharmaceutical industries, such as vaccines, gloves, and syringes, in affordable housing, palm oil, fintech, and Fast Moving Consumer Goods that Indonesia is powerful at,” the envoy said.
Belarus Ambassador urged Kenyan businesses to tap into Belarusian technology in agriculture as they are a market leader in the industry.
He noted that trade between Kenya and Belarus has been low, due to lack of information about his country in Kenya.
According to data by the Belarusian embassy, bilateral trade in 2020 was $40.6 million, with the best performance in 2018 at $49.4 million. The decline is attributable to Covid-19 and the political instability in Belarus.
Traditional Belarusian exports to Kenya are potash and mineral mixed fertilisers, newsprint, printed products, while Kenyan exports are largely cut flowers and buds, nuts, vegetables and fruits, coffee and tea.
Ambassador Vziatkin showcased various sectors in which potential Kenyan investors can explore, key among them agricultural technology, farming tractors, petrochemical products, woodworking, light industries and pharmaceuticals.
“Belarus is open for business with Kenya as we are a gateway to Eurasian economic bloc,” Ambassador Vziatkin said.
Belarus and Kenya chambers of commerce signed an MoU on July 15, this year.
The Iranian envoy termed Kenya as Iran’s most important partner in Africa and a key cog in his country’s foreign policy.
Barmaki said with Kenya-Iran enjoying 50 years of relations, there is a huge potential between the two states.
He said his mission has facilitated eight delegations to Iran to explore tea and coffee markets.
