Simon Konzolo

Business Competitiveness, TradeMark Africa (TMA)

[Simon Konzolo @SimonKonzolo]

@orengo_james There was a song baba loved every time he was in Kakamega. Cheza hiyo!

[TradeMark Africa @TradeMarkAfrica]

Over the past two days, the GLOBALG.A.P. Tourstop 2025 in Nairobi has convened farmers, exporters, regulators and policymakers under the theme Driving the Region’s Agri-food Trade Through Compliance and Product Diversification. The event was held under the auspices of the EU-funded Business Environment and Export Enhancement Programme (EU-BEEEP), which seeks to increase and diversify trade in the mango, avocado and vegetable value chains.

The discussions reaffirmed that compliance is the passport to global markets, while diversification secures resilience and long-term competitiveness. For Kenya’s horticulture and fisheries sectors, the stakes are significant: each rejected consignment at European borders translates into wasted investment, lost income and shrinking market share.

TradeMark Africa’s Kenya Country Director, Lillian Mwai-Ndegwa, emphasised that compliance is a strategic investment that enhances credibility, attracts higher-value buyers and strengthens the ability to diversify products and markets. Dr Andrew Edewa, Director of Standards and SPS Measures, highlighted compliance as a lever for transformation, with digital traceability and certification creating new pathways for smallholders and SMEs to compete regionally and globally.

Read more:
https://t.co/nqeoVB8I1O

#KeepAfricaTrading #GoFarTogether

[Simon Konzolo @SimonKonzolo]

https://t.co/MKDloHSYBe

[Simon Konzolo @SimonKonzolo]

Over the next 2 days, I will be participating in a high-level PPD on creating a conducive business environment for SMEs to Leverage @AfCFTA . This engagement is made possible through the REDIT Programme, funded by the @FCDOGovUK thru' @TradeMarkAfrica https://t.co/ZT0Y1Yvy1Q

[Hassan Ali Joho, EGH. @HassanAliJoho]

Today, I met with members of @MsaPortCharter Committee, led by Chairman Mr. Agayo Ogambi who provided an update on the implementation status of their charter.

We agreed on the need to strengthen @kmakenya and additionally discussed the importance of establishing supportive regulations to enhance the competitiveness of our ports.

Shipping and Maritime Affairs Principal Secretary @GeoffreyKaituko along with stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, also attended the meeting. @MiBeMa_2022 @Kenya_Ports

[State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs @MaritimeKE]

PS @GeoffreyKaituko today chaired a meeting of the Mombasa Port and Northern Corridor Community Charter Steering Committee (MPNCCC) for an update on the progress of implementation of the charter.
He encouraged the maritime stakeholders to work together to boost the sector.

[KAM @KAM_Kenya]

We have continued to partner with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) in driving and enhancing Kenya's export potential by facilitating trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Our goal is to position Kenya as the business hub of Africa, leveraging the AfCFTA to expand market access and promote regional economic growth. - @HNgugi1 Acting Country Director @TradeMarkAfrica - Kenya

#ChangamkaNairobi
#ChangamkaShoppingFestival

[Dr. Eng. Hannah Ngugi @HNgugi1]

Today, I joined PS @DrJumaMukhwana for the
media launch of the 7th Annual Kenya Manufacturing Summit and Expo by @IndustryKE and @KAM. Thru’ @TradeMarkAfrica’s REDIT Programme funded by @UKinKenya, we are supporting 100 SMEs in showcasing their products to over 25,000 attendees.

[Kenya Chamber @kenya_chamber]

Almost every county has a business fund, but the county governments should retain from lending directly but utilize the blended finance model with the private sector to reach even more businesses.

H.E Ndiritu Muriithi, Ecocapp Capital Limited

Link to report; https://t.co/sN4AeKXB2r
#KNCCIBizBarometerQ4

[Ahmed Farah HSC @AhmedFarah__]

Today, I attended a consultative meeting on legislative reforms for the private sector hosted by @Waziri_Mvurya. Through @TradeMarkAfrica BEEEP program funded by the @EUinKenya we are working with @MITIKenya to lower the cost of doing business & enhance business competitiveness

[TradeMark Africa @TradeMarkAfrica]

We've signed a grant agreement with @selfhelpafrica to build the trading power of 10k women & youth entrepreneurs & 30 SMEs at Kenya's 6 border counties with funding thro' @USAID ERRA program. Resilience against economic shocks is a key @FeedtheFuture milestone for food security.

[Ahmed Farah HSC @AhmedFarah__]

Today we signed a partnership agreement between TMA, KNCCI & KAM. Supported by @UKinKenya, this initiative aims at boosting involvement of SMEs in the @AfCFTA.

@TradeMarkAfrica reaffirms its commitment to supporting Kenyan SMEs capitalize on the vast opportunities within AfCFTA

[KAM @KAM_Kenya]

Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), led by Acting CEO @TobiasAlando, today participated in an Exporters Roundtable organized by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (@knccinrbcounty) in collaboration with @TradeMarkAfrica. The event, themed "Leveraging AfCFTA for Enhanced Export Growth in Africa," brought together a diverse group of manufacturers and key stakeholders from various sectors to explore the vast opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

AfCFTA connects 1.3 billion people across 55 countries with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) valued at US$3.4 trillion. This ambitious pact holds immense potential for Kenya to expand its export markets, drive GDP growth, and pave the way for sustainable economic development. Kenya’s proactive implementation of AfCFTA demonstrates the nation’s commitment to regional integration and the promotion of intra-African trade.

In attendance was the Principal Secretary State Department for @IndustryKE, @DrJumaMukhwana, who remarked, "We appreciate that AfCFTA aspires to integrate economies within Africa, making it easier to trade across borders, and Kenya is very ready to unlock opportunities for exporters." He added that strengthening coordination and cooperation among relevant agencies is necessary to ensure the effective implementation of trade agreements and standards.

KAM Ag CEO Tobias Alando emphasized the importance of AfCFTA, stating, "While the trade agreement provides the best opportunity to achieve our regional, national, and business goals, Kenya still needs to put in place effective mechanisms to fully capitalize on the benefits it offers."

Mr Alando highlighted key drivers essential for Kenya's success under AfCFTA, including value chain development to enhance production efficiency, market development for strategic markets to diversify export destinations, and addressing policy misalignments to ensure coherence. He also emphasized the importance of business development services to support growth and innovation, and the need to improve national competitiveness by tackling regulatory and infrastructural challenges. Additionally, he recommended addressing logistics issues and non-tariff barriers (NTBs) through the harmonization of standards to facilitate smoother trade and enhance profitability.

As we continue to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborations like this roundtable, KAM remains dedicated to advocating for policies and frameworks that will empower Kenyan manufacturers to seize the opportunities under AfCFTA, thereby enhancing our country's position as a leading exporter on the continent.

#BringingAfCFTAHome

[Kenya Chamber @kenya_chamber]

'Trade Mark Africa in partnership with KNCCI and with the support of the UK government seeks to enhance capacity of Kenyan SMEs by providing comprehensive support encompassing market intelligence, policy advocacy, among others.' - Ahmed Farah, @TradeMarkAfrica County Director

#KNCCIExportersRoundtable

[Kenya Chamber @kenya_chamber]

"We invite Kenyan businesses to invest in Ethiopia. Our embassy is more than ready to support your engagement in trading and investing in Ethiopia." -Hon. Demeke Ambolu, Ethiopian Ambassador to Kenya
#KNCCIExportersRoundtable

[Kenya Chamber @kenya_chamber]

Damptey Bedaiko Asare - High Commissioner of the Republic of Ghana to Kenya.

[Kenya Chamber @kenya_chamber]

The Africa we all want - Damptey Bediako Asare, High Commissioner of the Republic of Ghana to Kenya
#KNCCIExportersRoundtable

[Ahmed Farah HSC @AhmedFarah__]

We had a productive meeting with PS Transport @mohamed_daghar today! We discussed @TradeMarkAfrica progress in the initiative to develope a cool logistics corridor for fresh produce exports from a consolidation facility in Naivasha, cool railway, and modern port in Mombasa.

[TradeMark Africa @TradeMarkAfrica]

Today w/ @UKinKenya at @Kenya_Ports to review and discuss new initiatives. The #UK has been a supporter of infra works at the Port including Port Reitz, Kipevu & Magongo roads, automated systems, berth improvement & modern equip't resulting to halved cargo evacuation time

[TradeMark Africa @TradeMarkAfrica]

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