Nairobi: Kenya has secured market access representing 46 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through various trade agreements, Acting Director of External Trade Joseah Rotich has said. Rotich noted that agreements such as the Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the Kenya-UK EPA, the Kenya-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the East African Community (EAC) have broadened market access across multiple regions worldwide.
According to Kenya News Agency, Rotich emphasized the importance of Kenyan producers and manufacturers utilizing these trade pacts to enhance exports and stimulate economic growth. He stated that strategies must be developed to increase production capacity and diversify products to improve competitiveness. Rotich was speaking in Nairobi during a two-day sensitization workshop for Kenya's National Implementation Committee (NIC) on the AfCFTA implementation strategy.
Rotich identified the AfCFTA as a landmark agreement with the potential to industrialize Africa. He highlighted the necessity of a robust NIC for the effective implementation of the continental agreement. The AfCFTA implementation strategy, the first of its kind tied to a specific agreement, aims to provide a roadmap for Kenya to access the African market. Rotich emphasized that the NIC must be equipped with essential tools for successful implementation.
He further stated that AfCFTA's goals include increasing intra-Africa trade and enhancing regional integration. He stressed the importance of Kenya trading with the other 54 member states to fully capitalize on the agreement. Rotich identified agriculture, livestock and fisheries, manufacturing, mining, handicrafts, and oil and gas as priority export sectors targeting markets in Central and West Africa. Additionally, he highlighted business, tourism, education, cultural and sports services, ICT, transport, and logistics as key service sectors with potential under the trade pact.
Miriam Bomett, Head of Policy and Regulatory Advocacy at the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), also spoke at the workshop. She underscored the importance of NIC sensitization to equip members with the skills and knowledge necessary to implement the AfCFTA effectively. Bomett praised the government's efforts to open markets through several trade agreements and noted that if implemented well, the AfCFTA could increase the country's manufacturing capacity to 100 percent. She emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to ensure manufacturers benefit from the AfCFTA.
Bomett advocated for intervention measures for the successful implementation of the AfCFTA, including policy coherence, elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers, and prioritization and diversification of markets, especially where Kenya lacks a competitive advantage. She revealed that the private sector is working closely with the government to ensure Kenyan businesses capitalize on the trade agreement.