Kenya and Ghana have maintained friendly and cooperative relations over the years. While they are geographically distant, both countries have shared interests and engage in various areas of cooperation.In order to boost the bilateral relations between the two countries there was  a five- day business forum that took place from the 23rd to 27th May at the Sarit Expo Centre which was organized by the Ghana National AfCFTA Coordination Office and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), in collaboration with the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI).

The Business forum and exhibition also aimed to facilitate trade and investment opportunities between Ghana and Kenya under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which both countries were among the first to ratify.

The forum comprised  70 Ghanaian and 20 Kenyan enterprises who participated in the exhibitions, business forums, seminars, and matchmaking sessions that cover various sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, food processing, textile, cosmetics, services, and culture. During the opening ceremony the Ghana EXPO also witnessed the launch of the Ghana Trade House (GTH), a platform for showcasing Ghanaian products to the East African market.

During the business forum discussions, both countries came to an agreement:

  • To embrace the power of unity and forge new partnerships to highlight their nations’ best and create vibrant economies.
  • To embrace the principle of free trade and transformation, recognizing that the success of the AfCFTA depends on their commitment and cooperation.
  • Collaborate on various sectors that offer significant opportunities for mutual benefits, such as leather, pharmaceutical, dairy, food processing, textile, cosmetics, financial services, and culture.
  • Establish destination markets for their products, services, and value addition and quality standards that would enhance their competitiveness.
  • Exchange information and best practices on digitization, innovation, export promotion, and culture through their associations and platforms such as the GTH.

KNCCI through the representation of Economic Diplomacy Chair Mr.Ronald Meru and Mr.Kassim Were, Head of Trade Development committed to ; identifying potential partners or customers in Ghana or other African countries that are interested in their products or services and establishing long-term relationships with them, conducting market research and analysis on the demand, preferences, regulations, and challenges of exporting to Ghana or other African countries, and tailor their products or services accordingly and  seek support from relevant government agencies or institutions such as KEPROBA or AfCFTA Secretariat on accessing market information, trade facilitation, financing options, or dispute resolution mechanisms.