Post by Kenya Association of Manufacturers

Kenya’s continues to position itself as a competitive manufacturing hub and investment destination in Africa. This message was amplified at the Kenya–Germany Government Relations Business Day in Berlin, where the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) joined policymakers and business leaders to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and showcase Kenya’s industrial potential. Representing KAM, Board Director Pankaj Bedi highlighted the transformative impact of the Kenya–EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The agreement provides Kenyan manufacturers with predictable access to a market of over 500 million consumers, valued at US$16 trillion. Beyond trade expansion, the EPA is expected to stimulate investment, enhance competitiveness, and elevate the global visibility of the Made in Kenya brand. For investors, it offers a stable framework for long‑term engagement, reinforcing Kenya’s role as a strategic hub for companies targeting both European and regional markets. KAM Chief Executive, Tobias Alando, MML, Bsc. Alando appreciated Kenya’s growing competitive advantages. He pointed to the country’s strategic location as a gateway to East Africa, its expanding consumer base of 55 million people and preferential access to regional and global markets through the EAC, COMESA, AfCFTA, and the Kenya-EU EPA. These frameworks not only open markets but also enable integrated regional value chains, export growth, and long‑term business expansion. Mr. Alando further emphasized Kenya’s youthful skilled workforce as a critical driver of industrial growth. He noted that Kenya’s vibrant SME ecosystem offers opportunities for partnerships, supplier development, technology transfer, and local value addition. He stressed that “investment follows confidence, confidence in policy, institutions, and partnerships,” calling for predictable reforms to sustain investor trust and unlock industrial growth. The discussions also highlighted the long‑standing partnership between KAM and GIZ, which continues to support Kenya’s industrial development through practical initiatives. These include empowering women in manufacturing, preparing enterprises to leverage AfCFTA opportunities, strengthening technical and vocational training, and enhancing SME competitiveness. Such programmes are directly aligned with Kenya’s Bottom‑Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritises industrialisation, technology transfer, job creation, and export expansion.   With more than 100 German companies already operating in Kenya, the Berlin forum reaffirmed six decades of economic cooperation and set the stage for deeper collaboration. 📷: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Florian Gaertner/Photothek #KAMTakesYouThere #KAMAdvocacy