This archive report was first published on 18 November 2021.
On November 17, 2021, Chinese and Kenyan traders launched a chamber of commerce in Nairobi, marking a significant step towards strengthening trade and cultural ties between the two nations.
The Kenya-China Chamber of Commerce aims to connect the scattered operations of Chinese and Kenyan traders, creating a lobbying machinery that will promote friendship and deepen exchanges and cooperation.
According to Trade Principal Secretary Johnson Weru, the Chamber will be part of a long-term goal of improving contacts between the two sides, beyond government channels.
“This institution will further promote the friendship and deepen exchanges and cooperation,” Weru said after the organisation was launched.
Tim Chen, the inaugural chairman of the Chamber, emphasized the importance of the non-profit organisation in facilitating business cooperation between the two countries, accelerating trade, and encouraging investment in Kenya.
“More specifically to strengthen our communities and bind us together, facilitate business cooperation between the two countries, accelerate trade and encourage investment in Kenya to increase local employment,” Chen said.
Trade between the two countries has improved over the past decade, with Chinese exporters being the largest beneficiaries. However, Kenya only exports a tenth of the value it imports from China, a problem attributed to lack of diverse products, little value addition, and stringent conditions imposed by Beijing.
Despite this, China's more than 500 firms operating in Kenya have created over 130,000 jobs for locals, according to the Chinese Embassy's corporate social responsibility prospectus.
