On 7^th April 2022, KEPSA CEO, Ms. Carole Kariuki met with the Director of the Spanish Confederation of Employers Organization (CEOE), Mr. Narciso Casado Martìn, and the Managing Director for the Spain Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Immaculada Riera at KEPSA offices.

In 2018, an MoU was signed between KEPSA and CEOE, which sort to among other activities ease the exchange information as well as engage in activities of mutual benefit between the two parties. Today’s meeting allowed both parties to further explore opportunities for mutual collaboration as well as reinforce long standing relations between the organizations.

Ms. Kariuki informed the two leaders of the various programs that KEPSA is undertaking that include programs designed to support SMEs in scaling up, accessing cheap affordable finance, accessing alternative export markets as they embrace e-commerce and digitalization to mostly support women and youth-led SMEs to grow. She also pointed out the role KEPSA is playing in economic diplomacy with partner organizations across the world such as CEOE to increase the private sector linkages as well as engagement.

The Spain Chamber of Commerce and CEOE highlighted that they had just ventured into the Creative Industry with a focus on fashion, tourism, art and music also focussing on other sectors like the blue economy, innovation, artificial intelligence, cyber security and e-commerce (technology). They also have innovative programs for the SMEs that facilitate training, provision of finance to assist the SMEs venture abroad thus enabling growth, productivity and internationalization of the SMEs. Ms. Immaculada pointed out that Kenya is a geo-political country and an important hub for markets. The Spain Chamber of Commerce Managing Director further highlighted that they sought to strengthen bilateral and commercial relations with Kenya and Africa at large.

Both parties shared various lessons that businesses experienced from the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. From these observations, it was evident that there was a need for spurring innovation, diversity in markets and the importance of local production.

From the discussions, a business forum will be jointly organized with the intention to enhance country-to-country relations and entrench the business engagements present. Ahead of the forum will be virtual B2B sessions that will enable participants from both countries to meet and discuss ahead of the physical forum. The Spanish team is also to share information with KEPSA on SME programs that are currently being undertaken with a view to adapt as well as borrow from these programs. These programs purpose to promote digitalization, empower women and provide technical training and capacity building for SMEs in different sectors.

Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales (Spanish Confederation of Employers’ Organizations), or CEOE, is a Spanish institution founded in June 1977 that represents the Spanish business community. It includes state-owned and private companies in all sectors. It’s a member of Business Europe.

The Spanish Chamber of Commerce supports and fosters foreign trade among Spanish businesses, given the importance of internationalization as an essential means to improve business competitiveness and as a lever to reactivate the economy. It also provides aid to companies through its advisory programmes as well as information and training to help them take the basic decisions needed to ensure their business internationalisation strategy is a success.