Kenyan manufacturers and exporters are set to benefit from a new government strategy aimed at increasing exports to the European Union (EU) by addressing trade barriers, improving compliance with international standards and enhancing market access.
The government on Thursday launched the Kenya-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Implementation Strategy, a 10-year roadmap designed to help businesses fully utilise duty-free and quota-free access to the 27-member EU market while promoting industrialisation, investment and job creation.
The strategy outlines practical measures to support manufacturers, agricultural exporters and small and medium-sized enterprises in meeting European market requirements, improving customs procedures and increasing value addition.
Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said the roadmap is intended to transform Kenya’s preferential access to the EU market into tangible economic opportunities for businesses.
“The Kenya–EU EPA aims to secure existing markets while unlocking new opportunities for Kenyan enterprises, attracting investment and promoting job creation,” Kinyanjui said.
“This strategy therefore serves as a guiding framework to harness the full potential of the EPA.”
The European Union remains Kenya’s largest export destination and second-largest trading partner, accounting for about 21 percent of the country’s annual exports.
According to the International Trade Centre, Kenya exported goods worth Sh239 billion to the EU in 2025, while imports from the bloc totalled Sh224.5 billion, giving Kenya a trade surplus.
The implementation strategy identifies six priority areas that have long constrained exporters. These include sanitary and phytosanitary standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment, customs and trade facilitation, information and communication technology, structured commodity trade and sustainable trade.
The government expects the reforms to enable manufacturers to increase exports of processed and value-added products while helping agricultural exporters comply more easily with the EU’s strict food safety and quality requirements.
Officials also believe the roadmap will attract more investment into export-oriented manufacturing by providing greater clarity and certainty on the implementation of the EPA over the next decade.
European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger said the implementation phase would be critical in ensuring businesses benefit from the trade agreement.
“The launch of the implementation strategy is an important step in translating the agreement into tangible opportunities for Kenyan businesses and exporters,” Geiger said.
“The EU remains committed to working closely with the Government of Kenya and the private sector to ensure that the EPA delivers inclusive growth and long-term benefits for both sides.”
The Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement came into force on July 1, 2024, granting Kenyan exports duty-free and quota-free access to the European Union market, which has a combined economic output of about $21.2 trillion.
Kenya’s leading exports to the EU include cut flowers, tea, coffee, fruits, vegetables and spices, while imports from the bloc mainly consist of machinery, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment and motor vehicles.
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