This archive report was first published on 8 October 2019.
Kenya's diplomatic charm offensive in China has yielded significant economic dividends, with exports to the country surging 74.13% in the first six months of 2019.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), China bought goods worth a record Sh7.48 billion in the first half of 2019, up from Sh4.30 billion in the same period of 2018.
The increase in exports is attributed to Nairobi's aggressive trade promotion and marketing campaigns in China, aimed at growing and expanding the market for Kenyan farm produce.
Coffee, specialty tea, cut flowers, and avocados are some of the farm produce that have gained market access to China, said Peter Biwott, chief executive of the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta has created a strong bond between Kenya and China, which is why Kenya exports continue increasing in the Chinese market,” Mr Biwott said.
As part of its export diversification plan, Kenya has made accessing the populous Chinese and Indian markets a priority under the Integrated National Exports Development and Promotion Strategy, unveiled in July 2018.
However, India remains a challenging market for Kenyan exports, with shipments falling Sh1.84 billion, or 37.61%, to Sh3.05 billion in the first half of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.
