SA, Kenya seek to boost trade

SOUTH African businesses had a crucial role to play in growing Kenya’s economy after the commitments made during a state visit by President Jacob Zuma in October last year.

This was according to acting High Commissioner Sarel van Zyl, who was addressing businesspeople from the two countries at a business seminar organised by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) in partnership with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) in Nairobi.

The seminar was part of the Outward Selling Mission to Kenya, under the theme “Exploring Trade and Investment Opportunities between Kenya and South Africa”.

The Director of Internal Trade at Kenya Department for Trade, Joyce Ongundo, emphasised the need for Kenyan and South African companies to devise market-oriented solutions in a bid to address the growing trade imbalance with a view to creating win-win solutions between the two countries.

Director of Export Promotion at dti, Seema Sardha, said Kenyan and South African business communities needed to work together towards promoting the economic growth of both countries.

She identified opportunities that were available to be explored in agri-business, services, automotives, capital equipment, infrastructure development and energy.

National chairperson of the Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kiprono Kittony encouraged South African investors to venture into a number of sectors in Kenya, including energy, transport, finance, manufacturing and mining infrastructure development.