Nairobi, Kenya, Nov 17 – Kenya China Chamber of Commerce (KCCC) has officially launched in Kenya with an aim of building long-lasting relationships with businesses and traders in both countries.
Speaking at a launch event in Nairobi, KCCC Chairman, Tim Chen said that the non-profit organization will go a long way to accelerate bilateral trade between the two countries.
“The main objective of our organization is to promote friendship and co-operation between the Chinese and Kenyan people including through the promotion of cultural exchanges between our two countries. More specifically to strengthen our communities and bind us together, facilitate business cooperation between the two countries, accelerate trade and encourage investment in Kenya to increase local employment,” said Mr Chen.
The launch comes at a time when trade between the two countries has been growing.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Chinese exports to Kenya stood at 3.8 billion dollars in 2018, up from 1.6 billion dollars in 2007. Today, there are more than 400 Chinese businesses operating in Kenya, creating nearly 130,000 jobs for the local people.
These companies have played an important role in accelerating the advancement of the Big Four Agenda, which is currently Kenya’s development blueprint by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Chen urged Kenyan traders to register in the organization in order to get grow their businesses and benefit from major international forums that will take their businesses global.
“We would like to welcome all Kenya Businesses that do trade with China to join us, so that they can reap from this business member group. We are here to represent you, and also to support your enterprises grow,” he said.
On his part, Principal Secretary, State Department of Trade Ambassador Johnson Weru said “We believe through strengthening mutual learning between China and Africa, this institution will further promote the friendship and deepen exchanges and cooperation. Together we have embarked on a distinctive path of win-win cooperation. Our cooperation has set a good example for building a new type of international relations.”
Aside from strengthening exchanges, one of the biggest objectives of Kenya China Chamber of Commerce is to bolster solidarity, promote mutual understanding as well as cement people-to-people exchanges.
