NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenyan exporters just got a welcome boost from the United Kingdom as the UK government has reduced inspection fees and checks on some horticultural products, aiming to encourage even more trade between the two nations.
With Kenyan vegetables and fruits already enjoying strong demand in the UK, this move is expected to further fuel exports and strengthen economic ties.
In a bid to streamline trade, the UK has cut the inspection rate for select Kenyan produce from 10pc to 5pc, signaling its confidence in Kenya’s agricultural standards.
Among the big winners are Kenyan snow peas, which now join the ranks of cut flowers as products subject to fewer checks before entering the UK market.
This reduction comes after Kenya ramped up its pesticide surveillance on produce headed to critical export markets, ensuring quality and compliance with international standards.
The impact is already being felt. In the first three months of 2024, Kenya exported Ksh 20.3 billion worth of vegetables and fruits to the UK, a 1.5pc increase compared to the same period last year.
The benefits of this flourishing trade relationship aren’t one-sided. In response to the UK’s reductions, Kenya has lowered its import duty on whiskey from 35pc to 25pc, a significant drop that’s set to excite whiskey importers and consumers alike.
Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya hailed the tariff reduction as a win-win for both countries, fostering closer economic collaboration.
As British whiskey flows more freely into the Kenyan market, local producers are also gearing up for an export surge in the other direction.
As part of these expanding trade ties, UK investors have also committed to constructing a Ksh 1.3 billion macadamia and cashew nut processing facility in Lamu, set to supercharge Kenya’s nut exports.
This investment is expected to create jobs and increase the country’s export capacity for processed nuts, providing an economic boost to the coastal region.
The facility, once operational, will help Kenya add value to its nut production, making its exports more competitive on the global stage.
The added processing capacity not only enhances Kenya’s export potential but also strengthens its reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality agricultural products.
