Page 52 - World Airnews Magazine November 2020

NEWS DIGITAL

KENYA’S EXPORT TRADE GOES

DIGITAL

By Moses Omusolo

Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency CEO Wilfred Marube (Right) engages an
exhibitor at the Virtual Macfrut Digital Trade Fair which was held in Rimini, Italy. Over 10
Kenyan exhibitors took part in the online trade fair hosted at the agency’s offices

current emerging business opportunities exports.
in the fruit and vegetable sectors,” said At the same time, traders urged the
Kenya has broken ground in online KEPROBA. government to expedite negotiations and
export promotion after it secured more Commenting on the development, to sign trade agreements with the United
than Sh200 million worth of orders in its KEPROBA chief executive Wilfred Kingdom before the January 1, 2021 Brexit
first virtual trade fair recently held in Italy. Marube said the success of the fair was date when the UK will officially leave the
Championed by the Kenya Export unprecedented. European Union.
Promotion and Branding Agency, it is “We are happy that even Covid-19 They noted that this is the only way to
expected that virtual trading will become a did not stop our Kenyan exporters from avoid Kenyan fresh produce that enjoys
lucrative avenue for the country’s fledgling interacting with the world on the streets duty-free treatment in the UK from being
exports sector. of Rimini and make sales. We will continue slapped with huge duty that will render it
“Kenyan exporters clinched sales following up the exhibitors and update the uncompetitive in the international market.
leads amounting to over $2,178,000 confirmed orders and delivery for the next The team, which comprised officials
(Sh235,224,0000) in the recent Virtual 12 months,” he said. from the Kenya Flower Council (KFC), Fresh
Macfrut Digital 2020 Trade Fair that took Produce Exporters Association of Kenya,
place in Rimini, Italy. This amount was IMPROVING EXPORT CHANNELS Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya and
from over 36 buyers,” said KEPROBA in a Meanwhile Kenyan traders in fresh produce Horticultural Crops Directorate, Kenya
statement. have intensified efforts to improve export Airport Authority (KAA) and Kenya Airways
The agency said the event held in channels to the international markets. (KQ), also toured laboratories and testing
collaboration with the International Trade Other than the Jomo Kenyatta centres of food and logistics.
Centre through the She Trades project International Airport in Nairobi, the dealers “There is a lot of potential for horticul-
featured some 10 Kenyan women exporters are seeking to increase the volumes of tural produce export in the Coast, and we
in fruits and vegetables. exports through the Port of Mombasa and want to tap into this potential. We have
The fair was postponed in May 2020 due the Moi International Airport, Mombasa. seen for ourselves, for example, that the
to the outbreak of Covid-19. The dealers, who toured various export port of Mombasa can handle whatever
Hosted at the Kenya Export Promotion outlets and met several stakeholders in volumes that can be made available,” said
and Branding Agency offices. With support the export chain in Mombasa, expressed KFC Chief Executive Clement Tulezi.
with technology, they were able to satisfaction with the ongoing upgrading The two-day meeting was supported by
interact with global stakeholders including of the Moi International Airport and the TradeMark East Africa to increase access to
exporters, importers, technicians, experts preparedness of the Mombasa port to the international markets of Kenya’s fresh
and investors in value addition, showcasing handle bulkier volumes of horticultural produce. Q

World Airnews | November Extra 2020
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