Exporters and Investors Council under the MFA holds an online briefing on entering Kenyan market

On March 3, 2021 Exporters and Investors Council (EIC) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Kenya held an online briefing for Ukrainian exporters on entering the Kenyan market and doing business in Kenya.

The event was opened by Foreign Deputy Minister(CDTO) Dmytro Senik and Ambassador of Ukraine in the Republic of Kenya Andrii Pravednyk and representatives of Ukrainian companies operating in fields such as machine building, agriculture, the chemical industry, the pharmaceutical industry and the small-scale industry.

Dmytro Senik in the opening session of the event noted that the African market is now considered one of the world’s most dynamic markets. «This year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine pays special attention to the development of economic cooperation with African countries, so I urge all our exporters to focus on this region and to conquer African markets along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs», - Dmytro Senik said. Deputy Minister added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to organize a business missions to the region soon after the coronavirus pandemic ends.

Kenya is Ukraine's largest trading partner in East Africa. «The East African Community (EAC) countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) are using a common customs import tariff that, on the one hand, can enable simplified customs transit procedures and, on the other hand, can encourage the re-export operations within the Community. Kenya can become a gateway market of East African countries for Ukrainian exporters», - Dmytro Senik stressed.

Ambassador of Ukraine in the Republic of Kenya Andrii Pravednyk informed the participants of the event on exporting rules and regulations in Kenya: «The importing goods need to be declared within 21 days after unloading or after arrival in case of vehicles. The importer should contact a licensed customs agent, a person authorized to process import documents and assist in the custom registration of the goods on behalf of the exporter. The country set the VAT rate at 16%, the import declaration fees of 2%, and the railway development rely at the rate of 1.5%. The most popular retail companies are Naivas, Onn the way, Chandarana foodplus and Carrefour. We are in contact with all of them, and ready to support Ukrainian business», – Ukrainian Ambassador noted.