(Nairobi) – Kenyan micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have successfully sent their first export shipments to South Sudan, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Framework. The initiative, known as TradeConnect, aims to simplify trade logistics and grow exports across Africa for Kenyan businesses, supporting their expansion into regional markets.
TradeConnect, launched by a coalition that includes the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), UBA Bank, TradeMark Africa (TMA), and Kenya’s Ministry of Cooperatives and MSME Development, aims to send 1,000 containers of Kenyan goods across the continent over the next year. This effort is projected to generate $1.2 million in trade and increase Kenyan exports by 10% annually while reducing logistics costs for exporters by approximately 30%.
During a flag off ceremony in Nairobi, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, through a speech delivered by Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSME Development Wycliffe Oparanya, underscored the role of TradeConnect in empowering Kenyan businesses. “By producing what we can consume and consuming what we can produce, the TradeConnect initiative will allow Kenyan enterprises to become more competitive and self-reliant, fostering growth and innovation,” Kindiki’s message stated.
Kenya’s exports to Zambia currently stand at USD 70 million, with the leading product being manufactured tobacco and substitutes, representing 10.6% of Kenya’s exports to Zambia. Other notable export items include margarine and edible mixtures, making up 9.5%, and medicinal products, at 6.8%.
Kenya’s export performance to the DRC has shown varied trends. Kenyan exports to DRC decreased from USD 239.4 million in 2014 to USD 132 million by 2019, followed by a gradual recovery in recent years, with values reaching USD 134.4 million in 2020 and USD 189.9 million in 2023.
Kenya’s imports from DRC have increased consistently, growing from USD 3 million in 2014 to USD 22.3 million in 2023. On average, between 2014 and 2023, Kenya’s exports to DRC were valued at USD 181.1 million, while imports averaged USD 15.5 million. Despite fluctuations, Kenya has maintained a trade surplus with DRC over the past decade, reaching a peak balance of USD 236.4 million in 2014 and a low of USD 108.5 million in 2020.
| Year | Kenya’s Exports to DRC (USD Million) | Kenya’s Imports from DRC (USD Million) | Balance of Trade (USD Million) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 239.4 | 3.0 | 236.4 |
| 2019 | 132.0 | – | – |
| 2020 | 134.4 | – | 108.5 |
| 2023 | 189.9 | 22.3 | – |
Floice Mukabana, CEO of the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency, emphasized the alignment of TradeConnect with the agency’s mission of promoting Kenyan products abroad. “With the Made In Kenya mark, we are enhancing the quality, authenticity, and distinctiveness of Kenyan goods, supporting our goal to ‘Brand Kenya, Export Kenyan, Build Kenya,’” Mukabana said.