In a grand inaugural ceremony held yesterday at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) marked its presence at the commencement of the 4th edition of the Indo Africa Trade Exhibition. Mr. Patrick Nyangweso, the CEO of KNCCI, delivered a keynote address underscoring Kenya’s pivotal role as the foremost Economic and Investment Hub in the region.

Mr. Nyangweso emphasized the imperative for Kenyan manufacturers to pivot towards value addition to enhance the competitiveness of their products and services on the global stage. KNCCI pledged to continue its efforts in mobilizing members to actively participate in the upcoming 5th edition of the event.

Furthermore, Mr. Nyangweso encouraged exhibitors to consider investments in Kenyan Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and Export Processing Zones (EPZ), emphasizing the lucrative incentives associated with such endeavors.

Hon. Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, the Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, graced the event and called upon Indian manufacturers and exhibitors to transition from mere trade to substantive investments in Kenya. He proposed renaming the forthcoming 5th edition as “The 5th Trade and Investment Expo, Kenya,” underscoring Kenya’s readiness to enhance Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs). He specifically urged Indian companies to channel their investments into five key pillars, including Agriculture Transformation, SME Development, Healthcare, Digital Infrastructure Development, and Creative Economy Investments.

Notable partners present at the event included Export Processing Zones (EPZ), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Kenyan Investment Authority (KenInvest), and the State Department of Investment Promotion. The expo is scheduled to run until Saturday, September 23rd, 2023, offering a promising platform for fostering international trade and investments.