On 15^th February 2022, KEPSA, led by the CEO Ms. Carole Kariuki and the Chair Ms. Flora Mutahi participated in a High-Level Kenya – Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) Trade, Investment & Tourism Business Forum in Dubai. The forum was attended by H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta on his working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Several Cabinet Secretaries, captains of industry from both Kenya and the Gulf region among other delegations attended the high-level business forum held on the margins of the Expo 2020 Dubai.

The Forum was called to order by Amb. Johnson Weru, Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade, who contextualized the objective of the forum and presented the program of the forum. In his opening remarks, he welcomed the participants indicating that the forum is a great platform that has been presented by the Government of the Republic of Kenya to enable participants from the GCC Member States and Kenya to engage with a view to strengthening the existing partnerships and forge new ones as well as identify and address issues that hinder trade and investments.

The Representative from the UAE Chamber indicated that UAE and the GCC region as a whole have a lot of opportunities for trade and investment and there is a need to explore the same for the mutual benefit of Kenya, UAE and the GCC region.

Speaking on deepening the Economic and Commercial Cooperation Council States, the President of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Mr. Richard Ngatia, indicated that Kenya is a business gateway to the African continent and a member of a number of regional trade blocks; EAC, COMESA, the Tripartite Free Trade Area and the AFCFTA. He called on the GCC to engage with their Kenyan private sector counterparts and explore how to penetrate the African region and leverage on the opportunities within the region.

The Director for Investment in the Ministry of Economy of the UAE presented the Trade and Investment Opportunities in the UAE region. She indicated that both UAE and the greater GCC region offer great opportunities for Kenya o explore.

While speaking in a panel discussion, the KEPSA Chair Ms. Mutahi noted that the bilateral trade between Kenya and the GCC region has been progressively increasing with 2020 GCC’s imports from Kenya standing at 467,819(Thousand US Dollars) in goods such as tea, gold, date, cut flowers among others. However, she said, a very small portion of GCC’s imports from the rest of the world. “It is therefore crucial to identify opportunities for collaboration that will promote trade and investment between Kenya and the GCC region which UAE is part of,” She added.

The panel discussions focused on the business environment and the enormous opportunities that exist both in Kenya and the GCC region. The participants showed interest in creating partnerships in the area of ICT and digital markets, modernization of the agricultural sector, skills development in the health sector with a focus on exchange programs for workers in the health sector, textiles, women, and SMEs.

The focused round table discussions brought out the following:

• There’s a lack of information, knowledge on opportunities for UAE companies wishing to do business and invest in Kenya and vice versa.
• There’s a need for synergy in the tourism sectors of Kenya and UAE in order to complement each other.
• It was noted that Kenya is an expensive destination and there is a need for an arrangement for the entry of low-cost carriers to facilitate tourism.
• There is a great opportunity to collaborate in the health sector.
• Dubai International Financial Center can partner with Kenya to establish Kenya as a financial hub for Africa.
• The possibility to use Dubai as a distribution centre for Kenyan products.