Nairobi – Kenya: India Expo opened here on Friday, March 27, with a view to promoting greater trade and investment opportunities in Kenya.
A high-power trade delegation from India led by Walter D’Souza, regional chairman, Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), is in Nairobi for showcasing Indian products and services to the Kenyan market from March 27 to 30. D’Souza has urged Kenyan businessmen to experience excellent quality products and services made in India which are also very price-competitive.
The FIEO is a body promoted by the Union ministry of commerce, government of India.
India with high technology production standards can provide African region the right kind of products which the region requires. High on the delegation’s agenda is finding ways to improve trade and investment in high tech areas of infrastructure, pharma, auto components, electronics, healthcare, agro, food and the like.
The ‘Make in India’ policy of the new government is expected to help in creating world-class products and services with high cost efficiency and it is the opportune time for both the countries to identify potentials in thrust areas including auto and auto equipment, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and healthcare sectors.
Indian investments in Kenya are now worth $1.5 billion and they are expected to double in another five years. The visiting delegation participating in the three-day India Expo-2015 trade exhibition showcases 200-plus innovative products and services including high fashion, auto components, pharma products, cosmetics, electronics, agro-machinery, food processing machinery, audio and hearing equipment, incense sticks etc., which are suitable to the African markets and third country exports. As Kenya is the gateway to the entire East African region, FIEO is placing more focus on bilateral trade and investment.
India also looks at Kenya as a better investment destination as the availability of labour and its quality had seen improvement over the last few years. The bilateral trade between India and Kenya has registered an exponential growth during the last four years. It has risen from US$1.5 billion in 2009-2010 to US$ 4.17 billion and is growing, said Walter D’Souza.
India Expo-2015 was formally inaugurated by Yogeshwar Varma, high commissioner of India to Kenya in the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). Those who attended included Indian deputy high commissioner Sushil Singhal and many high-profile members of Indian and Kenyan business communities.
