Kenya to host expo to boost Sino-African trade ties

NAIROBI, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) — Kenya will host the seventh edition of the Kenya International Industrial Expo next week, which seeks to boost Sino-African ties, organizers said Monday.
Gao Wei, managing director of Afripeak Expo Kenya, told journalists in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that the three-day event that begins on Sept. 12 brings together more than 200 exhibitors from China and Africa to showcase the latest products.
“The expo will be a platform for connecting African and Chinese investors to facilitate knowledge exchange as well as the adoption of cutting-edge technologies to boost Africa’s industrial competitiveness,” Gao said.
Pius Rotich, general manager of Investment Promotion and Business Development Services at the Kenya Investment Authority, said the exhibition will host manufacturers of automotive parts, infrastructure construction, agricultural machinery, building materials, renewable energy, and environmental and chemical products.
Rotich revealed that Kenya will leverage the expo to attract more Chinese investments to enable the country to emerge as Africa’s industrial hub. He added that Chinese manufacturing firms have already helped reduce Kenya’s reliance on industrial goods and boost exports.
Cynthia Kamau, director of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country’s trade lobby, said the expo will provide an avenue for the country to link with Chinese manufacturers who have developed innovative products that suit local consumer preferences. ■