Kenya targets 500 MSMEs for EAC trade fair in Kigali

The National Organising Committee for the trade fair was officially launched in Nairobi by Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and MSME Development Wycliffe Oparanya bringing together government agencies, private-sector representatives and MSME support institutions to coordinate Kenya’s participation.

The trade fair, scheduled to run from October 30 to November 8 in Kigali, is expected to attract close to 2,000 exhibitors from EAC partner states. Kenya plans to have all 47 counties represented, with each county expected to send at least five exhibitors.

CS Oparanya said MSMEs remain a key pillar of Kenya’s economy, with more than 21 million people engaged in the sector and its contribution to GDP estimated at more than 30 per cent.

He said the government was strengthening access to finance, markets and digital transformation to enable small businesses to grow and compete in regional and international markets.

“MSME is one of the key factors. That’s why His Excellency thought it appropriate to establish a ministry that focuses on MSME because that is where the people are,” Oparanya said.

The government is seeking to increase Kenya’s delegation beyond the initial 500 exhibitors, with Principal Secretary, State Department for MSME Development Susan Mang’eni saying partners would be approached to expand participation.

“About 100 NYOTA beneficiaries are expected to be among the Kenyan exhibitors, providing young entrepreneurs with exposure to regional markets and opportunities to build business connections”, said PS Mang'eni.

The government has also proposed about Ksh.200 million to support Kenyan MSMEs participating in the Kigali event.

A key focus for Kenya will be the leather value chain, alongside horticulture and digital business, with organisers urging exhibitors to prioritise quality, innovation, branding and competitiveness.

MSEA Director General Henry Rithaa said the trade fair should be used to strengthen Kenyan brands and create reliable structures for aggregating quality products from across the country.

“We want to have a structure that can lead us to quality products in all the value chains... but I’m also speaking to branding of Kenya in a way so that we leave a mark in Kigali,” Rithaa said.

Rithaa said Kenya must also improve the aggregation and mobilisation of products so that businesses can consistently supply regional markets.

The previous EAC MSME Trade Fair, hosted in Nairobi, attracted more than 1,500 exhibitors, 55,000 visitors and 300 targeted business-to-business sessions.

The government has urged participating businesses to use the platform to showcase quality and innovative products while building sustainable trade relationships that can help Kenyan MSMEs expand beyond the domestic market.