Kenya has offered all support and facilitation to Pakistani businessmen to capture big market of 38 African states, which are landlocked to Kenya that has international seaport of Mumbasay. “Kenya is gateway to other African states.
You people should visit more and strengthen your base in Kenya to sell your products in the entire region,” said High Commissioner of Republic of Kenya, Mrs Mishi Maskika Mwatsahu in a meeting with members of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) here at Federation House on Friday.
She was accompanied by her Commercial Attache, Bramah L. Kaleve and Honorary Consul in Karachi, Mohammad Hanif Janoo. Prominent on FPCCI side were President FPCCI, Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed, Vice President FPCCI, Akbar Abdullah, Dr Mushtaq Noorwala, Aziz Damji, Arshad Vohara. FPCCI chief underlined the need to identify Pakistani goods entering Kenya through a third country which increased the price for consumers there that could be reduced through direct trade. He informed the meeting that Pakistan had floated tenders for construction of warehouse facility in Kenya, which was very much awaited to increase Pakistan’s trade share in Africa. Vice President FPCCI, Akbar Abdullah pointed out that high rate of railway fare, from Mumbasay seaport to Uganda and other African states, was a major blockage in this regard. “Railway fare to Uganda from Mumbasay is more than the shipping charges from Karachi to Mumbasay port that makes it difficult for Pakistani businessmen to compete”, he said. Dr Mushtaq Noorwala complained that the registration of Pakistani pharmaceutical items in Kenya took more than one year against six months, the original official time fixed by Kenyan authorities.
Thus, despite qualifying in quality at international standards, Pakistani pharmaceutical companies could not sell their products in Kenya and onwards. The HC of Kenya assured that the registration process would be expedited. However, she said, any complaints regarding trade with Kenya should be moved through FPCCI so that these could be addressed at priority.
President FPCCI, Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed urged that Kenya should reciprocate to Pakistan by more imports from here as Pakistan had best quality products particularly in textile, fabrics, yarn, sports, surgical and leather sectors. “We can enter joint ventures in IT sector as Pakistan excels in Information Technology,” he said adding that present bilateral trade status was in favour of Kenya which should be equalized. Pakistan was major tea importer from Kenya which brought huge bill to Pakistan. “If this trade imbalance continues, we will have to look for other markets to import tea,” FPCCI chief said.
Source; ABN tv
11.26.05
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