Kenya to prioritize exports to African countries
Xinhua, June 30, 2016 Adjust font size:
Kenya plans to prioritize exports to African countries in order to grow export volumes, the export promotion agency said on Thursday.
Export Promotion Council (EPC) Chairman Jas Bedi told a trade forum in Nairobi that the continent is currently importing 45 percent of Kenya's products.
"EPC is currently training Kenyan enterprises on export trade, so that they can identity suitable export markets in Africa that have a high potential of importing Kenya's products," Bedi said during the official opening of the forum.
The exhibition was organized by the EPC under the EPC Product Development Program for Value Added Agriculture, Livestock and Light Manufactured Products.
African nations targeted under Kenya's export promotion campaign include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Sudan and Angola. Uganda is currently Kenya's largest export market.
Bedi said that Kenya will also consolidate its market share in the existing markets in the East Africa Community bloc where Kenyan products enjoy preferential tariffs.
The chairman of the EPC said that Africa is an ideal export destination because they purchase manufactured goods as opposed to other regions which buy raw agricultural products.
"So trade with Africa helps Kenya to achieve its industrialization vision," he said. Enditem