The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has officially opened its Dubai office, a move aimed at addressing up to 90 percent of the challenges facing Kenyan exporters.
Speaking on the initiative, KNCCI President Dr. Eric Rutto noted that Kenyan traders have been losing billions in trade deals annually, prompting the need for a more structured approach to protect exporters and mitigate risks in the United Arab Emirates market.
“Kenya and UAE trade relations offer immense opportunities, but they also come with significant risks. Reports show that Kenyan exporters lose about three containers of fresh produce weekly, translating to roughly 150 containers a year. When combined with unpaid meat exports, losses could reach approximately Ksh 7 billion annually,” Dr. Rutto explained.
KNCCI highlighted that despite bilateral agreements between Kenya and the UAE, trade imbalances persist, with many exporters suffering financial losses due to unpaid goods and lost shipments.
Cynthia Nyawira, KNCCI’s Chair of Economic Diplomacy, emphasized that some rogue traders have exploited Kenyan exporters because there was previously no active monitoring. “That changes today,” she stated.
The new Dubai office will provide comprehensive support to Kenyan businesses, including strengthening market linkages, promoting Kenyan trade interests, and offering protections for exporters through a structured system.
Services available to KNCCI members include buyer verification and approval, full business profiling of buyers, advance payment solutions of up to 80 percent for supplies to established firms, end-to-end traceability and tracking, and compliance support through vetted service providers.
Dr. Rutto further projected growth targets, stating, “We aim to increase exports year-on-year by 10 percent directly attributed to the KNCCI Dubai office. This translates to an additional Ksh 80 billion in trade across the GCC countries.”
The Chamber is urging Kenyan exporters to leverage the Dubai office to minimize losses, ensure payment security, and capitalize on regional market opportunities.
