This archive report was first published on 13 October 2019.
Kenya's exports to key East African Community markets have hit a three-year high, with earnings from goods sold to Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda reaching Sh77.32 billion in the first eight months of 2019.
According to data from the Central Bank of Kenya, this represents a 5.98 percent growth over the Sh72.99 billion earned in the same period in 2018.
The improvement in exports is attributed to Nairobi's efforts to ease trade tensions with Tanzania, which have been a major hindrance to Kenyan manufacturers in recent years.
Kenyan factories have struggled to grow exports in regional markets due to tariff and non-tariff barriers, as well as multiple fees and levies that increase the cost of production.
However, the Ministries of Trade and EAC Affairs have been working to resolve these disputes, and efforts to bring down tariff and non-tariff barriers have been successful.
As a result, the order book from Tanzania expanded by Sh2.28 billion, or 8.41 percent, to nearly Sh21.54 billion in the eight-month period through August.
Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) chairman Sachen Gudka commended the Kenyan team for their efforts in working with the EAC secretariat to bring down barriers and improve trade.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's meeting with his Tanzanian counterpart, John Magufuli, in July also helped to improve trade ties between the two countries.
