County Supports Nairobi Exporters Through Trade Missions

The Nairobi County government, in collaboration with national trade bodies, has stepped up support for local exporters by participating in and promoting trade missions as a key export‑promotion tool. The move follows a high‑level meeting between the county and the State Department for Trade, where both parties underscored the importance of leveraging regional trade frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), COMESA Free Trade Area (COMESA), and bilateral deals to open new markets for Nairobi‑based businesses.
Under the expanded programme, the county will work with KNCCI’s Nairobi chapter to facilitate participation of SMEs and exporters in outbound trade missions, business‑matching forums and export fairs — giving them direct exposure to international buyers, investors, and partners. KNCCI’s trade‑mission services include support with documentation, market intelligence, and coordination of logistics and B2B meetings. At the same time, County officials have committed to improving logistics and compliance support, including assistance for agricultural and value‑added goods exporters; a recent example involves the county assuring exporters of a regulated setup to better handle goods destined for export.
Business associations and exporter groups have welcomed the initiative. They note that trade missions offer a rare opportunity for smaller firms — especially SMEs and first‑time exporters — to gain access to buyers and markets that would otherwise be difficult to reach. According to a recent mission organized jointly under the auspices of national and county authorities, participating SMEs secured orders and MoUs amounting to tens of millions of shillings. Exporters said the exposure and networking boosted their confidence in penetrating regional and continental markets, particularly under AfCFTA’s expanded liberalisation of trade.
Looking ahead, Nairobi County plans to institutionalize the support — expanding trade‑mission outreach, integrating digital trade facilitation tools, and simplifying export compliance processes. County trade officials say that by deepening cooperation with national trade institutions and chambers, and by building capacity among local exporters, Nairobi can strengthen its role as a major export hub in East Africa. If effectively implemented, this initiative could significantly expand export volumes, enhance value‑added production and stimulate job creation.