Kenya welcomes Egyptian food manufacturers in search of trade opportunities 

KENYA – A high-level delegation of leading Egyptian Food Manufacturers is presently on a visit to Nairobi, Kenya’s thriving business hub, from December 18 to 20. Their primary objective is to delve into potential trade collaborations and engage in crucial meetings with various business entities in the country.

The delegation comprises key players in Egypt’s food industry, featuring major entities such as the Pasta and Concentrates giant, Egyptian Swiss, the Fruit juice processing expert, Juhayna Foods, the Snack manufacturing powerhouse, Edita Foods, and the renowned tomato paste specialist, Agthia Foods.

Among the noteworthy companies accompanying them are Regina Company for Pasta and Concentrates, Oils and Grains Company, Covertina, Harvest Foods, Badaway group, Solymar Food, Alnada, and Wadi Foods.

Currently stationed at the Serena Hotel, the delegation is actively engaged in Business to Business (B2B) discussions with potential trade partners.

Egypt’s Ambassador to Kenya, H.E Wael Nasr Eldin Attiya, graced the Serena Hotel event, extending a warm welcome to the delegation and underscoring the imperative for more robust business exchanges between Kenya and Egypt.

Highlighting the swift sea transport from Cairo to Mombasa, which takes approximately 14 days, Ambassador Attiya encouraged companies from both nations to explore this route while awaiting the completion of other logistics infrastructure. He emphasized the potential benefits of this mode of transportation for fostering increased trade.

The ambassador also commended the entry of an Egyptian bank into the Kenyan market, anticipating that it would facilitate enhanced trade interactions between business communities in both countries.

Speaking at the event, CIB Kenya CEO Daphne Maina elucidated that the bank’s role extends beyond traditional banking services. It aims to provide strategic advice that empowers businesses to fully exploit the existing trade opportunities between the two COMESA nations.

 Kenya and Egypt enjoy robust trade ties, with the volume of trade between them reaching US$663.6 million in 2022—a notable 4.1% increase from US$637.4 million in 2021, as reported by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

 In 2022, Egyptian exports to Kenya decreased by 6.9% to US$355.7 million, whereas imports from Kenya to Egypt surged by 20.6% to $307.9 million. Noteworthy imports include coffee and tea valued at US$278.7 million, paper at US$11.4 million, and fruits at US$10.5 million.

 Addressing the trade imbalance, the Egyptian ambassador to Kenya explained that the favorable trade position for Egypt is partly due to goods exported through the Mombasa port being destined for other landlocked countries in East and Central Africa.

 The business delegation, partaking in a Market Visit exercise on the 16th, had the opportunity to explore outlets of major players in Kenya’s retail industry, including Carrefour, Naivas, and Quickmart.

 Reflecting on the market visit, one participant shared, “The experience was enlightening about the offerings in the Kenyan market. Kenya boasts a mature market with a diverse array of products. Nevertheless, we identified potential areas where we can effectively compete, both in terms of price and product quality.”

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