Page 593 - KHALIFA FUND PR REPORT LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL - AUGUST 2025 (ENGLISH & FRENCH)

8/25/25, 1:56 PM Emirati SMEs tap into East Africa as Khalifa Fund fuels export growth - Aletihad News Center

“Participation in Grains Africa 2025 advances Khalifa Fund’s global strategy by enabling SMEs to diversify into new

markets, enhance their competitiveness, and establish international trade connections,” Mariam Abdulrahman
Musallam, Head of the Monitoring and Evaluation Section at Khalifa Fund, told Aletihad in an interview.

“By taking part in the exhibition, we seek to form partnerships with international buyers, importers, and distributors,

not just for grain and agri-products, but also across other significant priority sectors,” Musallam said.

Entering the Global Market

Khadija Abdullah Farhan Aldandal, CEO of East Gate Bakery Equipment Factory—one of the participating SMEs—

expressed her determination to expand the global reach of their products.

“This ambition would not be possible without the unwavering support of Khalifa Fund, whose continuous assistance

has enabled us to explore new markets and proudly promote ‘Made in the Emirates’ products on global platforms,”

Aldandal told Aletihad.

East Gate is known for its durable, affordable, and well-supported machines, she said.

“When entering new markets such as Kenya, we follow a structured approach… We study customer needs and adapt

our product accordingly. By listening to customers and being flexible, we deliver value that respects both the

economic reality and cultural identity of African markets.”

At Grains Africa 2025, the company was given the opportunity to establish new relationships and position itself as a

reliable partner in the continent’s growing bakery industry, Aldandal said.

Another exhibition participant, Mohamed Rashed Alnuaimi of Printing Talk, agreed that East Africa is a promising
market with untapped potential.

“The region’s economic growth, young population, and increasing demand for innovative solutions make it a natural
next step. Khalifa Fund has been a key enabler, offering us the financial tools, strategic guidance, and confidence to

take the first steps toward international expansion,” Alnuaimi said.

Printing Talk, he added, balances performance with affordability, meets Kenyan standards, and adapts packaging to

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