The EU Ambassador to Kenya urges entrepreneurs to diversify export products

ANNE KANGERO-KNA

The European Union ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger has called on Kenyan entrepreneurs to diversify ex port products to the EU to increase profits under the Kenya -EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). 

Geiger noted that Kenya mainly exports horticultural produce like flowers and vegetables and underscored the need for exporters to shift to manufactured and high value goods. 

The ambassador who spoke during a Kenya -EU EPA sensitization forum in Athiriver in Machakos County, said the agreement presents an opportunity for Kenya to build capacity in terms of industrialisation and move to an upper middle level income country. 

“Kenya harbors ambition to become an upper middle-level income country and this can be achieved by the setting up of companies to manufacture and process products,” she said. 

Geiger hailed Machakos as one of the counties that has recognised the strategic opportunity offered by EPA by setting up Special Economic Zones and called on other counties to do the same. 

“These special economic zones present exceptional opportunities that will drive manufacturing and other counties should embrace the move,” the ambassador said. 

She assured Kenya of EU’s support in the implementation of EPA and said similar sensitization forums will be conducted in Europe to bring investments to Kenya so as to upscale trade be tween the parties. 

Speaking at the same forum the Director of External Trade in the State Department for Trade Joseah Rotich said the agreement has given Kenyan exporters unlimited access to the EU market for all products. “The agreement had le gally secured a quota free and duty free market to 27 countries in the European Union,” Rotich said. 

He said EPA will help expand the country’s industrial base and access to markets not only to the EU but also other countries including the US. Rotich reiterated the State Department’s commitment to fully implement the agreement and disclosed that plans are at an advanced stage to roll out an EPA implementation strategy.