NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 21- The Ministry of Trade has launched a five-year Strategic Plan for spurring economic growth in the country in line with Vision 2030.
Trade Minister Amos Kimunya said on Tuesday that the strategy will, among other things, focus on expanding export markets, promotion and graduation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) and ensuring fair trade.
Mr Kimunya said his Ministry will seek full cooperation of key partners who include security, transport, ICTs, governance and rule of law for its successful implementation.
“We recognise that approaches to growth in trade and investments as proposed in this plan cannot be possible without the full support of other ministries and key departments. The private sector and civil society are very important to the success of these strategies,” he said.
The Trade Minister observed that the current integration of economic blocks such as East Africa Community, COMESA and IGAD as well as other bilateral trade agreements within Africa, would facilitate increased absorption of Kenyan products and services.
Mr Kimunya explained that the new markets that would result from the integration efforts were critical to the country even as it strives to boost the capacity of its industries to deliver quality goods.
“You may all have noticed that players in Kenya’s trade sector are re-directing their efforts towards value-addition so as to enhance the competitiveness of our products in regional market,” he observed.
Deputy Prime Minster Musalia Mudavadi who launched the plan emphasised the need to create a strategic plan that bridges the gap between the big and small enterprises in the country.
Mr Mudavadi noted that the Strategic Plan will guide the Ministry in re-focusing its attention to measures that address the unique challenges of the country’s trading environment.
He said the plan also lays down other services that are critical in boosting trade and development at the local, regional and international levels.
“The plan includes a monitoring and evaluation system to ensure mistakes made in the past are avoided and only international best practices are applied to realise the planned targets,” the Deputy Prime Minister stated.
He explained that the plan further provides details of mechanisms that will be used to deliver on the planned targets, setting the pace for the start of the second phase of the five-year implementation plans for the Vision 2030.
