•The drop in the value of trade was attributed to covid-19 that saw transport and shipping paralised.
•In the list of 10 companies five will be foods and beverage based, 2 medicinal based,1 in shipping and logistics,1 in biodegradable packaging and one tobacco.
Image: HANDOUT
Indonesia is looking to grow its trade volumes with Kenya with a new expo aimed at finding new markets for its companies.
This is following a drop in the value of its trade with Kenya in 2022 to $501million (Sh68.2 billion) from $560 million (76.2 billion) a year earlier.
To boost this revenue, the Indonesian Embassy says it’s going to diversify its exports into the Kenyan Market from the traditional palm oil.
The drop in the value of trade was attributed to covid-19 that saw transport and shipping paralised.
The Secretary of Economic Affair at the Indonesian Embassy Rendra Kusumawardana says that Asian state will be looking to increase its exports in the food and beverage subsector.
“Ten companies from Indonesia have confirmed that they will looking to introduce their products to the Kenyan market from next month. This is among the initiatives we look towards increasing our products range for the local market,” said Kusumawardana
The renewed interest to enhance bilateral trade ties come just a year after Kenya opened its embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The economic affairs secretary said that in the list of 10 companies five will be foods and beverage based, two medicinal based one in shipping and logistics, one in biodegradable packaging and tobacco.
The companies that have announced participation include Sasa Inti limited (food and seasoning), Salim Wazaran Kenya Co. Ltd. (Indomie Kenya), Sido Muncul Tbk limited (modern herbal medicine), Evogaia Karya Nusantara limited (bio-degradable packaging), Indo Jaya Tobacco limited (tobacco).
Others are April Logistics Indonesia limited (shipping and logistics), Indesso Tanzania Ltd. (organic pesticide), Bersama Olah Boga limited (food and seasoning), Indospirit Natura limited (healthy food and beverages) and ABC President Indonesia limited (food and beverages).
He says that there is a huge potential offered by Indonesia to Kenyan businesses to explore areas of cooperation despite both countries producing similar products.
Through the expo Expo 2023 (IndoNEX2023), the Asian country will exchange trade, education, and cultural exhibition showcasing selected Indonesian export products, education, and culture.
IndoNEX 2023 aims to promote Indonesian exports and offers Kenyan students' and youths opportunities to pursue higher education in Indonesia while fostering cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and people-to-people contact between the two countries.
This the embassy says will be done with support and cooperation from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and Sasa, a food and seasoning company of Indonesia.
The Expo will feature a variety of exhibitors, from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) up to major exporters of the food and beverage industry, herbal medicine, packaging industry, and logistics from Indonesia.