Kenya has emerged as the Overall Best Exhibiting Partner State at the 26th East African Community (EAC) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair held in Kigali, Rwanda, with Kenyan entrepreneurs scooping top honours across four major sectors.
The country’s impressive performance at the regional exhibition, which concluded at Gikondo Expo Grounds, underscored the growing competitiveness of local enterprises and their potential to expand into regional and international markets.
Kenyan businesses secured several awards, with Jacqueline Mutune of Thonge Leather emerging as the Overall Best Exhibitor and Second Best Exhibitor in the Leather and Leather Products category.
Other winners included Florence Awuor of Mukuru Talent Share Kicks, who clinched the Best Exhibitor award in Leather and Leather Products, while Grace Onyango of MAMLO FOODS won Best Exhibitor in Agro-processing, Foods and Beverages, Spices and Herbal Products, alongside the Third Overall Best Exhibitor award.
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Joyner Mong’are of Join Her Glow Kenya Skincare was recognised as the Best Exhibitor in Horticulture, while Mohdhar Mohamed Mohamed of SeaWeed Biostimulant took the top award in ICT and Green Technologies.
Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) Board Chairman James Mureu was also recognised for his contribution to the growth of small enterprises and championing their participation in regional trade.
Speaking during Kenya Day celebrations at the fair, Principal Secretary for MSME Development Susan Mang’eni reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening regional integration through investments in transport infrastructure, logistics and trade facilitation.
Mang’eni noted that Kenya was pursuing strategic interventions to equip small businesses with the financial support, skills and infrastructure needed to compete in regional markets.
Among the initiatives highlighted were the Financial Inclusion Fund (Hustler Fund), National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, County Aggregation and Industrial Parks, and the recently launched NYOTA AGPO digital training programme, which targets more than 600,000 young people with skills to access government procurement opportunities.
She said the East African Community, with an estimated population of 331 million people and a combined Gross Domestic Product of approximately USD 356 billion, presents significant opportunities for Kenyan enterprises to expand their operations, create jobs and participate in regional value chains.
The Kenya Day celebrations, attended by Mang’eni as Chief Guest alongside Trade Principal Secretary Regina Ombam, also showcased the country’s cultural heritage, locally manufactured products and entrepreneurial innovations.
The event provided Kenyan exhibitors with an opportunity to engage potential buyers, establish business partnerships and explore new markets across the region.
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Meanwhile, African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat Regional Trade Advisor for Southern and East Africa, Nomalanga Prar Gule, called for stronger government-private sector partnerships to build MSME capacity through training, technology transfer and market linkages.
EAC Deputy Secretary General Annette Ssemuwemba also emphasised the importance of improving access to both physical and digital markets, noting that market access is essential in promoting entrepreneurship, investment, job creation and sustainable economic growth.
Officially closing the exhibition, Rwanda’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Juan Haguma, described the fair as a demonstration of the country’s productive potential and commitment to developing sustainable solutions for MSMEs across the region.
Kenya’s strong performance at the exhibition marks a significant boost for its small businesses, highlighting the growing role of MSMEs in driving regional trade, innovation and economic transformation.
By Lizzy Aluga
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