KAM CEO’s Brief | 14 July 2017

National Trade Policy Launched

The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives’ launched the National Trade Policy on 10th July 2017 at KICC during the Kenya Trade Week.

Speaking on behalf of H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Henry Rotich noted that the new Trade Policy is geared towards promoting efficiency in the growth of domestic trade through transformational measures addressing the constraints impeding against the development of the wholesale, retail and informal sectors.

The three-day event, themed Transforming Kenya into a Competitive Export-Led and Efficient Economy, brought together prominent players and stakeholders in the trade sector.

In addition to the National Trade Policy, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, also launched and unveiled:

• The Buy Kenya Build Kenya Strategy
• Guidelines for Kenya’s Trade and Investment Missions
• The National Export Development and Promotion Strategy for Kenya 2017-2022.
• The National E-Trade Portal
• The National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC)
• The State Department for Trade Website

KAM, CRA Launch Integrated Devolution Data Portal

Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) in partnership with the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) with technical support from European Union (EU) launched The Integrated Devolution Data Portal (TIDDP) on 12th July 2017 aimed at centralizing devolution information onto a single platform.

The portal is an interactive platform for information sharing between County Governments, Constitutional Implementation Bodies, the public and other stakeholders providing a unified space for users to easily identify, retrieve and use devolution information.

Launching the portal, ICT Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Joe Mucheru noted that the Government is keen to provide relevant information from all counties to investors for decision making and encourages accountability of public officers.

Click here for the full brief. The portal is accessible on http://data.crakenya.org.

KAM Engages Political Leaders to Push Economic Agenda

During the week, KAM engaged Gubernatorial Candidates from Machakos – Wavinya Ndeti, Mombasa – Suleiman Shahbal and Nakuru – Lee Kinyanjui, John Mututho and Dr. Peter Koros, as part of the of nation-wide engagements with political leaders aimed at centralizing the economic agenda of the country.

Among the cross cutting issues highlighted include youth employment, poor infrastructure, congestion in the CBDs, competitive business environment for large and small businesses, spatial planning and resource allocation.

The manufacturing sector plays a vital role in the growth of a country’s economy. The gubernatorial debates focus on prioritising issues such as creating a massive export push, raising productivity to world class standards, promoting and leveraging ‘Buy Kenya Build Kenya’, tackling uncustomed goods and counterfeits, and developing a stable policy environment. Additionally, job creation through the revamping of TVET curriculum in the country.

In order to achieve these, KAM recently launched a 10-point Policy Agenda for Industrialization to guide incoming governments on achieving the economic goals stated in their manifestos by focusing their efforts on the manufacturing sector..

The agenda aims to centralize the economic agenda of this country in current and future political narratives. This includes the need to double jobs, double exports, increase foreign exchange earnings and raise manufacturing share of GDP to 15 percent by 2020.

Download view the 10-point policy agenda