This archive report was first published on 6 January 2020.
January 6, 2020, Nairobi - Kenya's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are making inroads into the Chinese market, with several entrepreneurs returning from the China International Import Expo (CIIE) with orders and promising leads.
Nancy Wangari Ndirangu, director of Centrofood Industries, has just returned from the CIIE with orders from Chinese clients. Her company, which produces tomato sauce, has been overwhelmed with inquiries and is now narrowing down to those with the best offers.
“The Chinese market could be the catalyst that will propel my company into the big league,” Ndirangu told Xinhua on Friday during a reception held by the Chinese embassy in Nairobi.
Centrofood Industries' current portfolio of products includes chilly and garlic sauce, fruit juices and jams as well as bottled drinking water. Ndirangu hopes to commence shipping her organic brand of tomato sauce to China, beginning January 2019.
Other Kenyan SMEs that participated in the CIIE include Trueways Enterprise, which secured large orders for its organic honey, and Nyumbani Coffee Enterprises, which hopes to introduce Kenya's renowned coffee to Chinese consumers.
“We are therefore putting all our energy into China to ensure we get our products into the lucrative market,” said Austin Mucheso, acting chief manager product, market development, and promotion at Export Promotion Council (EPC).
Kenyan products that have the potential to be successful in China include coffee, tea, macadamia nuts, and other manufactured products.
