Trade Exhibitions Trade Exhibitions

Trade Exhibitions

Trade events organized/facilitated in CY 2024:

Within the year, the Mission has organized and supported several trade-related events including India-Kenya DefExpo and Seminar (30-31 January 2024), Panel Discussion on India - Kenya Economic Engagement dubbed "Harambee Factor" in Nairobi (01 March 2024), Basic Chemicals, Cosmetics & Dyes Export Promotion Council (CHEMEXCIL) India - Kenya Chemical Business Meet in Nairobi (19 March 2024), Data Science AI Retreat (DSAIRe) for C-suite Executives in Nairobi (01-02 March 2024), TPCI Source India - East Africa (Buyer Seller Meet) on F&B and Packaging material in Nairobi (18-19 March 2024), India-Kenya Agriculture Business Forum (10 April 2024), Presentations by FAO, ICRISAT, ILRI, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, CIMMYT and Equity Bank during the aforementioned visit (11 April 2024), Meetings with Governors of Narok and Nyandarua Counties (12 April 2024) (the latter three events were in the context of a Hon’ble Mr. Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India (GoI) led delegation including 25 agriculture companies and institutions on a visit to Kenya from 10-12 April 2024), India Kenya Business Council (IKBC) Breakfast Meeting in Nairobi (22 May 2024), Seminar on Kenya Finance Bill 2024 in Nairobi (23 May 2024), Africa International Footwear and Leather Products Exhibition (AFLEX Kenya 2024) in Nairobi (29-31 May 2024), Africa-India Partnership Day in Nairobi (30 May 2024), Inauguration of Exim Bank of India East Africa representative office in Nairobi (30 May 2024), 25th Buildexpo Kenya 2024 in Nairobi (05-07 June 2024), 1st edition of Kenya Buildcon/Wood International Exhibition 2024 (06-08 June 2024), 9th Agritec Africa in Nairobi (12 June 2024) among others.

Many business delegations to India have also been facilitated including Mega RBSM/B2B Meet with Indian Manufacturer Exporters and factory visit coinciding with Global Patidar Business Summit (GPBS) in Rajkot, Gujarat (07-10 January 2024), Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) in Mumbai (08-10 February 2024), 5th edition of Delhi International Leather Expo (DILEX) - Reverse Buyer Seller Meet in New Delhi (04-05 March 2024), International Engineering Sourcing Show 2024 (IESS-XI 2024) (04-06 March 2024) and Plexconnect 2024 in Mumbai (07-09 June 2024) among others.

According to the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), India is the second largest investor in Kenya. Over 200 major Indian companies have invested in various sectors including manufacturing, real estate, pharmaceuticals, telecom, IT & ITES, banking and agro-based industries. Indian investments have resulted in creation of thousands of direct jobs to Kenyans. Indian pharmaceutical companies have a substantial presence in Kenya. A bilateral Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) was signed in 1989. Revised DTAA was signed in July 2016 and came into force on 30 August 2017.

A Joint Business Council (JBC) was set up in 1985 by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the -p National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KNCCI). FICCI and KNCCI signed a fresh MoU in January 2017 on the sidelines of the Business Forum during the State visit of President Uhuru Kenyatta. Revived JBC met in New Delhi in January 2017 and in August 2018. India Kenya Business Council (IKBC) was launched on 22 November 2023 in Nairobi during the India-Kenya Business Forum that was graced by Hon'ble Shri. Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India (GoI), Mr. V Muraleedharan, Hon’ble Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade & Industry, Government of Kenya, Ms. Rebecca Miano, High Commissioner of India in Kenya, H.E Ms. Namgya Khampa among other dignitaries.

Government of India consented to Kenya’s request for market access for its avocados. In a ceremonial flag-off, the first cargo of Kenyan avocados to India was dispatched from Nairobi as diplomatic cargo to the High Commission of Kenya in New Delhi on 16 September 2023. Government of India is in discussions with Government of Kenya regarding recognition of Indian Pharmacoepia (IP). Once the IP is recognized by the Kenyan Government, more number of Indian drugs will enter Kenyan market, thereby increasing the market share of Indian pharma companies.

Development Cooperation and Capacity Building:

India offers development assistance to Kenya in the form of loans and credit. The recent cooperations include a loan agreement to extend US$ 15 million (as first tranche out of US$ 30 million) to IDB Capital Limited for development of SMEs in July 2016. A Line of Credit agreement of US$ 29.95 million for upgradation of Rift Valley Textiles Factory (RIVATEX East Africa Limited) was signed in July 2016. The upgraded facility was inaugurated by the then President Uhuru Kenyatta on 21 June, 2019. A Line of Credit (LOC) agreement of US$ 61.60 million has been extended for power transmission and substation projects.

An LOC agreement of US$ 100 million for Agricultural Mechanization Project was signed in January 2017. While discussions were ongoing on re-purposing the facility for revitalization of Coffee, Cotton and Livestock value chains, re-purposed for revitalization of Coffee, Cotton and Livestock value chains, during the State Visit to India of President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Hon. William Samoei Ruto from 04-06 December, 2023, Government of India agreed to extend a new USD 250 million Line of Credit (LoC) to Government of Kenya (GoK) for Agricultural Mechanization projects in line with Kenya’s national development priorities. The proposed facility is intended for supporting agriculture, one of the key pillars of the India-Kenya bilateral partnership. Other outcomes during the visit are below:

S.No

Name of MoU/Agreement

1.

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Kenya and the Government of the Republic of India on cooperation in sports

2.

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Kenya on Cooperation in the Field of Sharing Successful Digital Solutions Implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformation

3.

Culture Exchange Programme between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Kenya for a period of 2023-27

4.

Memorandum of Understanding between Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Kenyan Bureau of Standards (KEBS)

5.

Memorandum of Understanding between Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Open University of Kenya (OUK)

On Air Connectivity, on 05 August 2023, IndiGo commenced daily direct flights between Mumbai and Nairobi. This was the airline's 27th international and 105th overall destination in the 6E network. Marking IndiGo's maiden foray into the African subcontinent, the direct connectivity has served to cater to the needs of both business and leisure travelers while fostering strategic bilateral ties between the two countries and contributing to economic growth.

Kenya Airways operates daily direct flights to Mumbai. Foreign airlines also provide air connectivity via Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Muscat, Addis Ababa and Kigali. Air India’s operations to Nairobi via Aden, which began in January 1951, the carrier’s second overseas route after London, ended in January 2010 and Air India closed its Nairobi office in March 2011. Air India started direct flights on Mumbai-Nairobi sector from 27 November 2019. Air India currently operates four flights a week to India. Flights operated between India and Kenya under the Air Travel Bubble agreement since October 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic till commercial flights were restored in March 2022.