by Christine Lagat
NAIROBI, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will next week hold a three-day national trade fair aimed at showcasing locally manufactured products to potential buyers, officials said on Thursday.
Principal Secretary in the State Department of Trade Chris Kiptoo told reporters the national trade week aims to consolidate the country's position as a regional trade and manufacturing hub.
There will also be forums to discuss trade facilitation through improved transport and logistics, said Kiptoo.
The national trade fair will be held in the wake of China-Kenya trade week held recently to attract hundreds of Chinese companies from to showcase products ranging from consumer goods, construction materials to electronics.
Kiptoo said a major forum will be held during the trade fair to explore ways to boost Kenya's export potential amid competition from neighboring countries.
"Our exports at the moment commands 8 percent of the GDP but we intend to push them to 30 percent by 2022.We are also focusing on regional integration to boost exports," Kiptoo said.
He revealed that a mega sale of clothes manufactured at the Export Processing Zones (EPZs) will be conducted in the final day of the national trade fair.
"We intend to encourage Kenyans to buy products manufactured locally in line with our policy to promote local content," said Kiptoo.
He added that a forum on domestic trade will discuss measures to salvage the local retail sector that has lately grappled with under-performance.
The official disclosed that an electronic trade portal to be launched on Monday will provide real time information on imports, exports and inter-county trade.
