Trade and Industrialization Cabinet Secretary, Adan Mohammed at a past event. [Photo/geeskaafrika.com]
Trade and Industrialization Cabinet Secretary, Adan Mohamed on Thursday launched a one-stop trade portal.
Dubbed ‘Kenya trade portal’, it will provide marketplace information for both international and local trade.
The Information in the portal is provided by a multi-section of stakeholders who include Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Association Of Manufacturers (KAM), Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (Kephis), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Council of Governors (COG), Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and the Retail Traders Association among others.
The information in the portal will range from products available in the country, wholesale and retail markets as well as licensed traders who could be targeted by manufacturers for distribution throughout the country and the licensing requirements and procedures in the counties.
The portal is expected to reduce the huge trade deficit that is a result of Kenyan imports being three times higher than the exports.
Also launched during the event is the National Trade Negotiation Council, which will handle Kenya’s trade negotiations at bilateral, regional and multilateral level.
This is in line with the adoption of National Trade Policy in December 2016 by the cabinet.