The Kenya–EU EPA Sensitization Forum was held in Isiolo Town, Isiolo County, aiming to raise awareness among Kenyan enterprises about the recently signed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). This agreement offers Kenyan businesses duty-free and quota-free access to the expansive EU market, opening up significant trade and investment opportunities. The forum provided essential information to help businesses understand how to fully leverage these benefits.

The Kenya-EU EPA is designed to promote Kenyan exports to the EU, support sustainable trade practices, and enhance Kenya’s integration into the global economy. Key topics included trade policies, investment avenues, and the importance of sustainability, emphasizing how compliance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards can enhance Kenyan products’ competitiveness in the EU market.

Participants raised concerns about challenges to maximizing the EPA’s benefits, including the need for government upgrades to Isiolo Airport to better support exports especially meat, the region’s major export product. Stakeholders expressed interest in direct access to EU markets, asking for clear channels on whom to target, rather than general statements about market openness. Additional barriers highlighted included limited financing for necessary improvements, high certification costs, inadequate storage and logistics infrastructure, climate changes and a lack of value addition.

The forum directed attendees to valuable resources like Access2Markets and InfoTrade Kenya for information on export procedures. Representing KNCCI Isiolo Chapter at the event were Chapter Chair Mr. Richard Maina and Vice Chair Ms. Sadia Boru.

This forum was organized by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) in partnership with the European Union (EU) and supported by the State Department for Trade, various ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and private sector Business Membership Organizations (BMOs), including Danish Industry, Kenya National chamber of commerce and industry (KNCCI), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK), Kenya Flower Council (KFC), Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), Avocado Society of Kenya (ASOK), and Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET), among others. Representatives from Isiolo County Government and industry leaders also participated to discuss the EPA’s impact on Kenyan businesses and strategies to optimize its advantages.

Additional sensitization forums are planned for other counties to broaden awareness and understanding of the Kenya–EU EPA across the country.