NAIROBI, Kenya, April 24 – The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) has mobilized local exporters ahead of the upcoming China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) 2025, set to take place from June 12-15 in Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
In a strategic meeting held at the Serena Hotel, Nairobi, KEPROBA, alongside the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, the Kenya-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and Hunan HaoTong Group, briefed exporters and business associations on market opportunities and engagement strategies for the Chinese market.
KEPROBA CEO Floice Mukabana described China as a critical trade partner, noting that while Kenya’s exports to China reached USD 196.8 million in 2024, imports from China stood at USD 4.3 billion—highlighting the need to bridge the growing trade gap.
“Our major exports—titanium ores, macadamia, avocado, fish, tea, coffee, gum, and resins—represent just a fraction of what Kenya can offer,” Mukabana said.
“There is huge potential in value-added agriculture, processed foods, textiles, and leather products.”
Currently ranked 56th among China’s export markets and 127th as a source market, Kenya aims to reposition its exports through diversification, product adaptation, and targeted visibility campaigns in Chinese provinces such as Hunan, Guangdong, and Sichuan.
CAETE 2025 is being billed as a golden opportunity for Kenyan businesses.
“The Expo allows exporters to engage directly with Chinese distributors and gather key market insights,” said Guo Ning, Deputy Director General of Hunan’s Commerce Department.
Andrea Li, Deputy General Manager at HaoTong International Transportation Agent, highlighted this year’s theme—“China and Africa: A Shared Future”—as a springboard for deeper trade ties.
The expo will spotlight African specialty foods, agri-products, handicrafts, tourism, and consumer goods.
To boost export readiness, KEPROBA plans to continue offering support through branding workshops, packaging design for international markets, B2B matchmaking, and compliance training—especially targeting Chinese market requirements. These initiatives have already opened up the Chinese market for Kenyan avocados and other horticultural exports.
KEPROBA has urged exporters and trade associations to take part in upcoming readiness programs to fully leverage CAETE 2025 and scale their exports to the world’s second-largest economy.
