KNCCI WOOS CHINESE INVESTORS TO EPZs AND SEZs AS CHINA-KENYA TRADE CITY EYES KENYA

Leaders from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) have stepped up efforts to attract Chinese capital into Kenya's manufacturing and agro-processing sectors, as a high-level business delegation from Linyi City in China's Shandong Province explores investment opportunities in the country.

The delegation, which is in the country as part of the China-Kenya Trade City project, was hosted at the KNCCI headquarters where they held talks with the Chamber's leadership led by President Dr. Erick Rutto and *Partnership Committee Chairperson Lucy Muchoki*.

Rutto and Lucy Muchoki said the Chamber is guiding the Chinese investors towards quick-win opportunities that will directly support Kenya's Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through provision of machinery, funding, technology transfer and skills training.

The Chinese team is led by QU Zongkuan, Deputy Director of the Linyi Mall Administrative Committee, and LIU Cuncai, Deputy Director of the Lanshan Mall Administrative Committee.

According to Lucy Muchoki, whose Partnerships docket is charged with forging international business linkages, the discussions focused on processing of agricultural products and local manufacturing, especially in construction materials and machinery - two areas where Linyi is a global hub.

"Our focus is to ensure these partnerships are mutually beneficial. We want to see Chinese technology and capital help our MSMEs to add value to our agricultural produce and to manufacture locally, so that we can also create products that can be exported to China," Lucy Muchoki said.

KNCCI President Dr. Rutto encouraged the delegation to invest in Kenya's Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to take advantage of tax benefits and other government incentives.

He disclosed that the group will visit the Naivasha Special Economic Zone later this week to assess opportunities firsthand. He also invited them to the upcoming Africa Commerce and Industry Summit next month, which he described as a gateway to the broader African market.

Other members of the Chinese delegation present included SU Yunchang from the Lanshan Mall Administrative Committee, ZHAO Guoqiang - Chairman of Shandong Shunhe Trading Group, ZHAO Ying, GENG Yanzhou of Shandong Haoduobao Supply Chain Co. Ltd, DIAO Zhonghua and QIN Chaozheng of Shandong Rongda International Trade Co. Ltd, YANG Yang and YANG Jianwei of Shandong Luhe Food Supply Chain Co. Ltd, as well as BAI Yuehua, ZHANG Wei, and ZHAO Man from the China-Kenya Trade City.