User Rating: 0 / 5
4th July 2021, Nairobi: Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency has today flagged off goods worth Kshs. 62,891,433.00 to Dubai as part of preparations for World Expo Dubai 2020 which kicks off in less than 100 days. This is through the World Market Initiative (WMI), a retail opportunity provided by Expo organizers to participating countries that will enable exhibitors sell their unique and authentic products to Expo visitors during the 6-months period of the Expo.
“We thank the Expo organizers for this initiative for it gives our visitors an opportunity to experience and purchase the best of Kenya from our Kenya country kiosk during the Expo. It is an opportunity to literally share the warmth of Kenya with the world,” said the Agency’s CEO Dr. Wilfred Marube during the flag off ceremony held at the Agency offices.
The Expo visitors will thus be able to purchase and interact with high quality, unique, ethically produced and culturally significant products is focused on promoting ethical consumerism, allowing Expo 2020 visitors to purchase products that are unique, culturally significant, of high quality and ethically produced.
The categories of goods being flagged off include coffee, tea, textiles, furniture, leather footballs, beauty products, coconut products, soap, sanitizers and assorted handicrafts. This exercise is being conducted by the Agency through a logistics firm named Africa Freight Systems Limited that will ensure the country kiosk is well stocked way before kickoff of the Expo that will run from 1st October 2021 to 31st March 2022.
Is Kenya Ready?
“As an Agency spearheading Kenya’s participation at the Expo, I can confidently say Kenya is ready. We have already booked exhibition spaces, presented the overall program to Expo organizers, held various exhibitor briefings all in readiness for the Expo. The Road to Dubai is already on,” Dr. Marube added.
Also in place is a multi-Agency Committee in preparation for the Expo. The Committee has membership drawn from both public and private institutions including State Department for Trade, KEPROBA, representatives from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya Investment Authority, Kenya Tourism Board, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, FPEAK, Fresh Produce Consortium, Kenya Flower Council, as well as Tea Board of Kenya.
Recently, Kenya shared a line-up of activities during the International Participants Meeting (IPM) that took place at Dubai Trade Centre from 4th to 6th May 2021 where over 370 delegates representing 173 countries attended.
The presentation which was made by Dr. Marube, who is also the country’s Commissioner General at the Expo highlighted Kenya’s planned activities for the entire 6 months and also dwelled on the planned activities during the KENYA WEEK Activities at the Expo which will run from 14th February 2022 to 18th February 2022.
Kenya Week activities which will be the climax of Kenya’s participation at the Expo include Valentines Day on ground activations with the theme “ From Kenya with Love” where Kenya plans to distribute 1 Million stems of roses and summer flowers to Expo participants; Kenya’s Counties and Economic Regional Blocs Day that will focus on investment opportunities available; Kenya National Day of Honour that will focus on cultural aspects as well as a business forum; Kenya GCC High-Level Trade, Investment and Tourism Forum; Kenya Cultural Day that will showcase Kenya’s cultural aspects.
Additionally, 18 Kenyan start ups companies have signed up for the ‘Scale to Dubai’ Initiative, a global entrepreneurship programme which offers start-ups and small businesses, with a proven track record in their countries, an opportunity to scale to Dubai. In the programme, participants will benefit as follows;
- 2 years free works space
- 2 years free visa
- Business set up
Kenya’s participation was confirmed in May 2018. The World Expo Dubai 2020 with the theme Connecting Minds, Creating the Future is the main theme but Kenya’s theme is Feel the Energy.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the main market for Kenya in the greater Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market that is comprised of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Also worth noting is the fact that Kenya and United Arab Emirates have a signed a double-taxation avoidance agreement that exempts taxation for national carriers from UAE.
With the proximity to United Arab Emirates and a travel time of approximately 5 hours, Kenyan and UAE business people can use carriers such as Kenya Airways, Emirate Airlines and Etihad Airways all which operate between both countries hence creating a conducive environment for business, technological development and innovation, cultural exchange, tourism and trade, while also acting as a gateway to Kenyan products to the larger Middle East and Asian Market.
Kenyan Exhibitors still have a chance to showcase their products in the additional spaces secured for them and are encouraged to log-on to . https://kenyaexpo2020.co.ke to register to participate. The Agency will also maximize on the Expo 2020 to link Kenyan exporters to other market regions such as the European Market, American and South American Markets.
###ENDS###
About Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency
The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) is a State Corporation established under the State Corporations Act Cap 446 through Legal Notice No.110 of August 9th, 2019 after the merger of the Export Promotion Council and Brand Kenya Board. KEPROBA’s mandate is to implement export promotion and nation branding Initiatives and policies to promote Kenya’s export of goods and services.
CONTACT US ON:
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.brand.ke
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MakeItKenya
FB: https://web.facebook.com/MakeItKenya/
Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keproba/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitkenya/