Nairobi, July 7th, 2022: Kenya is part of the 22 countries participating in the ongoing 46th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) with the aim of deepening trade relations with Tanzania through increasing the range of products traded between the two countries. Fifteen (15) Kenyan companies are exhibiting at the Trade Fair that has attracted 180 foreign companies and 3,200 Tanzanian firms displaying products, services and technologies used in the production of goods.
Kenya has identified soap and organic surface-active products, medicaments, flat products of iron or non-alloy steel and crown corks of base metal. Kenya has the highest supply capacity in crown corks of base metal and palm oil is the product with greatest export potential from Kenya to Tanzania.
Out of the total goods exported to Tanzania in 2021, 80% of the top export products comprised of cooking oils, flat rolled iron materials, fertilisers, soaps, insecticides, medicaments, paper and paperboards, footwear and sugar confectionary.
Tanzania is currently Kenya’s sixth largest export destination with exports worth Kshs. 40.4 billion which contributed to 33% of the country’s total revenues generated from exports to the EAC market in 2021. Tanzania’s exports to the country have doubled from Kshs 27.8 billion in 2020 to Kshs 54.4 billion in 2021.
Kenya is also seeking to provide a wider variety of other value-added manufactured goods and services such as financial, ICT, education, hospitality, warehousing, transportation and Building & Construction to enhance trade relations between the two countries and reduce the trade gap.
Kenya’s main export products to Tanzania are soap and detergents, animal or vegetable fats and oils, iron and steel products, electrical equipment, plastics, paper and paperboard and pharmaceuticals.
Speaking during the 46th Dar-es-salaam international trade fair, Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency, CEO Dr Wilfred Marube said:
“Kenya is keen on exploring business opportunities that will consolidate, expand, and penetrate the current market. The fair will be a networking opportunity with fellow delegates, sharing expertise with the aim of finding partners within countries of target. We are also leveraging on this event to provide a platform for our exporters to create market linkages and secure buyers for their products”
He added: “This event is a platform for Kenya to deepen its presence in the Tanzanian market, which has been identified as holding a lot of potential and capacity in absorbing more Kenyan products and services.”
Participation in the trade fair is also expected to boost exports of products and services to Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South-Western parts of Uganda who will be attending the Fair.
The increase in exports to Tanzania market is majorly attributed to the concerted efforts by the two Heads of States that has led to resolution of several trade barriers that were experienced in the past.