Nairobi SMEs Benefit From Local Export Partnerships

Nairobi’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) began reaping the rewards of new local export partnerships designed to strengthen their participation in global trade. County officials emphasized that these partnerships were developed in collaboration with the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA), local chambers of commerce, and regional trade associations. The initiative aligns with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritizes SME empowerment and international market access.
The partnerships provide SMEs with joint export opportunities, shared logistics, and collective bargaining power. By pooling resources, businesses can reduce costs associated with shipping, compliance, and marketing. Nairobi County also facilitated training programs to help entrepreneurs meet international standards, navigate trade regulations, and leverage digital platforms for cross-border commerce. These efforts ensure that SMEs are not only export-ready but also competitive in regional and global markets.
Entrepreneurs have welcomed the partnerships, noting that they help overcome challenges such as limited access to capital, fragmented supply chains, and high transaction costs. Analysts argue that local export partnerships are transformative because they create a collaborative ecosystem where SMEs can scale faster, diversify their customer base, and strengthen resilience against economic shocks. The program complements earlier initiatives such as the Export Financing Platform (May 2025) and the Export Promotion Scheme (November 2025), creating a comprehensive framework for trade facilitation.
Looking ahead, Nairobi County plans to expand these partnerships by integrating green supply chain practices, AI-driven trade analytics, and collaborations with international development agencies. Officials believe that by embedding local partnerships into export growth, Nairobi can accelerate job creation, attract foreign investment, and reinforce its role as East Africa’s trade gateway.