The government has unveiled a 10-year roadmap to help Kenyan businesses benefit from the Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.
The strategy focuses on six priority areas aimed at helping businesses, farmers, manufacturers and exporters increase trade with the European Union while making full use of duty-free, quota-free market access.
Launched on Thursday, the Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Implementation Strategy provides a clear framework for implementing the trade agreement over the next decade, to improve Kenya’s competitiveness, expand export opportunities, attract investment and create jobs.
Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said the strategy shows Kenya’s commitment to building a resilient, competitive and sustainable trading environment that enables businesses of all sizes to access the European Union market.
“The Kenya-EU EPA aims to secure existing markets while unlocking new opportunities for Kenyan enterprises, attracting investment and promoting job creation. This strategy, therefore, serves as a guiding framework to harness the full potential of the EPA,” Kinyanjui said.
European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger said the launch of the implementation strategy marks an important milestone in strengthening trade and economic relations between Kenya and the European Union through sustainable and inclusive growth.
“The launch of the implementation strategy is an important step in translating the agreement into tangible opportunities for Kenyan businesses and exporters. 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,” Ambassador Geiger said.
Trade Principal Secretary Regina Ombam said the strategy is in line with Kenya’s national trade and development priorities, including Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
“This Strategy provides an effective roadmap for implementing the EPA, thereby promoting sustainable economic growth, expanding trade and advancing prosperity for our nation,” Ombam added.
The Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement came into force on July 1, 2024. It gives Kenyan exports duty-free, quota-free access to the European Union, Kenya’s leading export destination and second largest trading partner, whose combined market is valued at about $ 21.2 trillion. The European Union accounts for about 21 per cent of Kenya’s annual exports.
According to data from the International Trade Centre, Kenya exported goods worth $1.85 billion to the European Union in 2025, while imports from the bloc were valued at about $1.74 billion.
Kenya’s main exports to the European Union include live plants and cut flowers, coffee, tea, spices, edible fruits and nuts, vegetables, animal and vegetable fats, and oil seeds.
Imports from the European Union mainly include machinery and mechanical appliances, pharmaceutical products, electrical machinery, motor vehicles, paper, paperboard and pulp.
The implementation strategy sets out priority interventions under six thematic areas: Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures, Standards, Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment, Customs and Trade Facilitation, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Structured Commodity Trade, and Trade and Sustainable Development.
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