Kenyan authorities announced plans to send a senior delegation to the United States next week, marking the resumption of crucial discussions between the two nations focused on establishing a bilateral trade accord.
Scheduled for Washington, the discussions will concentrate on broadening market opportunities for Kenyan products and reinforcing enduring economic connections between both nations.
According to Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, this renewed dialogue occurs as Kenya endeavors to base its economic expansion on sectors generating sustainable employment and offering markets for domestic raw materials.
The cabinet secretary emphasized that manufacturing continues to be fundamental to Kenya’s export approach.
During a tour of the Athi River Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA), Kinyanjui noted that several companies are progressively utilizing local resources like sisal to produce internationally competitive goods, such as premium-quality dartboards.
He stated that this transition toward value addition is essential for enhancing rural earnings and fortifying supply networks.
To draw additional investors to industrial zones, the administration has implemented various incentives, comprising tax exemptions and other financial assistance programs.
Kinyanjui explained that these measures aim to reduce operational costs and elevate Kenya’s attractiveness as a favored investment location.
The discussions with the United States unfold amidst the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a U.S. trade initiative that was
The AGOA framework provides qualifying Sub-Saharan African nations, such as Kenya, tariff-free entry to the American market for numerous products.
Following the extension of AGOA, the cabinet secretary indicated that investors now possess improved confidence regarding sustained access to the U.S. market while Kenya advocates for a more extensive bilateral trade arrangement.
The forthcoming trade discussions, if approved by President Donald Trump’s administration, would extend beyond the preferential terms provided under AGOA.
Concurrently, Kenya is working to diversify its export markets in Europe and certain Asian regions, while intensifying intra-African commerce through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).