The government has proposed plans to establish about 50 commercial centres in different global countries to promote Kenyan goods and services.
As outlined in the Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV) 2023-2027 launched on Wednesday this project will support the opening of new markets for trade which will boost the country's economy.
"It also supports opening of new markets for trade in goods and services and accelerating export promotion across priority value chains: tea, dairy products, leather and leather products, edible oils, cotton, textiles and apparels, and construction/building materials," read part of the report.
Some countries earmarked for commercial centre construction include Nigeria, Senegal, the US (Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Chicago, Atlanta), Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, Ghana, Germany, South Korea and China.
Others include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Angola, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
Additionally, the government will set up warehouses and distribution centres in different areas across the globe.
The construction of the warehouses and distribution aims to enhance the presence, distribution and access of Kenya's exports in international markets.
Kenya has selected the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh), Lagos in Nigeria, China (Guangzhou), South Africa (Cape Town, Johannesburg), Seol in South Korea and DRC (Lubumbashi, Goma).
The government will fund these two projects and expect to bring in billions between 2024 and 2027.
Per the report, the government set the indicative budget at Ksh3.73 billion to maintain the 50 commercial centres across the globe.
On the other hand, the government will set aside about Ksh3.392 billion for the 10 warehouses to be established. In the final year of the project, the government will spend about Ksh1.47 billion.
The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) and the State Department of Trade will lead the two projects.
Meanwhile, another measure to be put in place to boost exports is increasing the total value of Kenyan exports globally. It will involve coordinating negotiations of regional, bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.
"It also involves the development of technology-driven market access platforms, organisation of informal sector into cooperatives, digitisation of MSMEs mobile technology infrastructure and linking MSMEs through sub-contracting and franchising," read part of the report.
