NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by women and youth are about to get a major boost.
Thanks to a $540,000 (Sh69.5 million) support programme from TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the British High Commission, 210 SMEs will have the opportunity to expand their operations across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
This partnership, which also involves the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), aims to empower these SMEs to tap into Africa’s collective $3.4 trillion GDP, fostering sustainable growth and economic inclusion.
At the heart of this initiative is the goal of making AfCFTA more accessible to Kenyan SMEs.
Currently, intra-African trade accounts for only 15pc of Africa’s total exports. But with AfCFTA, there’s a push to change that by addressing critical barriers like high operational costs, limited market access, and insufficient market information.
Ahmed Farah, TradeMark Africa’s Country Director, emphasized that this programme isn’t just about increasing the number of Kenyan SMEs participating in AfCFTA. “It’s about diversifying their export products and ultimately boosting the volume and value of Kenyan exports,” Farah noted.
One of the most exciting aspects of the programme is its focus on empowering women and youth entrepreneurs, who often face additional challenges in the business world.
British High Commissioner Neil Wigan highlighted the importance of this collaboration in ensuring that these groups are well-represented in the broader trade ecosystem.
“We are proud to partner with Kenya to ensure that hard-working women and young people can reach their full potential and make their businesses a success,” Wigan said.
“This is another brilliant example of how the UK-Kenya partnership is bringing real benefits to Kenya and its people,” Wigan added.
SMEs represent a critical part of Kenya’s economy, accounting for 98pc of all businesses and contributing to over 30pc of jobs annually, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
By supporting their growth, this programme aims to fuel job creation, poverty reduction, and sustainable development, not just in Kenya, but across the continent.
As part of the initiative, a comprehensive situational analysis will be conducted to assess the readiness of Kenyan SMEs for AfCFTA participation.
This will help develop tailor-made capacity-building programs that educate business owners on export procedures, market opportunities, and compliance with international standards.
The programme also aims to facilitate market access by addressing non-tariff barriers (NTBs), providing vital market information, and establishing crucial business linkages.
KAM Acting CEO Tobias Alando expressed optimism about the long-term impact of these interventions, noting that the successful implementation of the programme will be transformative for Kenya’s trade dynamics within AfCFTA and beyond.
“We are confident that the tools and support provided through this initiative will enable our SMEs to thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace,” Alando said.
