Naivasha, Kenya, 16 September 2024: The East African Business Council (EABC), the Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have trained over 50 MSMEs on the InfoTradeKenya Portal in a training in Naivasha on 4 September. The event, supported by the EU-East African Community (EAC) Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP) II, brought together key stakeholders composed of youth, women entrepreneurs, MSMEs and public institutions engaged in priority value chains such as coffee, tea, avocado and leather.
The InfoTradeKenya Portal, launched in 2017 by KenTrade, is a crucial tool designed to enhance trade transparency by providing step-by-step information on exporting, importing, and transiting goods in Kenya. The portal serves as an essential resource for businesses, facilitating compliance with national and regional trade regulations, reducing trade costs, and enhancing investment and trade opportunities in Kenya.
The training increased participants’ awareness and understanding of the functionalities and benefits of the InfoTradeKenya Portal, promoted transparency in trade procedures (thereby minimizing redundancies and administrative bottlenecks), educated them on compliance with trade regulations and built capacity among stakeholders to navigate and utilize the portal effectively through hands-on sessions, case studies, group discussions and presentations.
Mr. Frank J. Dafa, Manager – Trade in Goods, representing the EABC Acting Executive Director, stated that agriculture contributes between 20 to 40 percent of the EAC GDP and employs 80 percent of the population. He noted that Kenya’s agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors contributed 21.8 percent to the GDP, with coffee being among the top five exports in 2023, valued at Kshs 34.6 billion. Additionally, leather and related products recorded a growth of 21.7 percent, and avocado production increased to 805.5 tons from 441.6 tons. He also highlighted that total trade between the EU and Kenya reached €3 billion in 2023, with an increase of 16% compared to 2018 (European Union).
KenTrade highlighted the InfoTradeKenya Portal’s impact on reducing trade costs and improving cross-border transaction efficiency. According to KenTrade the portal currently attracts approximately 7,000 users monthly, demonstrating its importance in Kenya’s trade landscape.
On her part, Ms. Eleonora Salluzzi from ITC commended EABC and KenTrade for promoting trade facilitation and enhancing the competitiveness of MSMEs in selected value chains through this workshop organized with support from ITC under the MARKUP II programme. She urged MSMEs to use the portal to identify redundant procedures and promote regulatory reforms to boost exports.
Ms. Anne Chepkoech, the MARKUP II National Coordinator, outlined the numerous interventions by ITC under the MARKUP programme to support priority value chains, including packaging, coffee and leather. She reaffirmed ITC’s commitment to enhancing MSMEs’ capacities to trade regionally, continentally and internationally.
EABC, in collaboration with ITC through the support of the MARKUP II programme, will carry out similar trainings in Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
Notes to the editor
About the International Trade Centre (ITC) – The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, dedicated to fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth through trade. ITC works to empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in developing and least-developed countries, by enhancing their competitiveness in regional and global markets. Through tailored programs, capacity-building initiatives, and strategic partnerships, ITC helps MSMEs connect to international value chains, improve trade performance, and access new market opportunities, contributing to sustainable development and poverty reduction worldwide.
For more information, visit www.intracen.org.
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About the East African Business Council – The East African Business Council (EABC) is the regional apex body of private sector associations and Corporates from the 8 East African countries. It was established in 1997 to foster the interests of the private sector in the integration process of the East African Community. EABC vision is a borderless East Africa for business and investment. The primary mission is to promote sustainable private sector-driven growth in the EAC. www.eabc-online.com
About EU – EAC MARKUP II – The European Union (EU) – East African Community (EAC) MARKUP II funded by the EU, aims to enhance economic development in the EAC through sustainable intra-African and EU-Africa trade. Focused on improving livelihoods, employment, and export competitiveness for MSMEs, the program supports the development of key export-oriented value chains as well institutional support in the six MARKUP II EAC recipient partner countries. MARKUP II will promote exports and investment through addressing trade barriers, value addition, quality compliance, trade facilitation and technology transfer. It is implemented by the International Trade Centre in collaboration with the EAC Secretariat and national partners in the recipient countries.
For more information, visit EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme | MARKUP II Home (eacmarkup.org)
