A delegation of the National Assembly to the Kenya-Ethiopia Trade and Investment Mission has called for the removal of bottlenecks hampering cross-border trade between the two countries.
Leader of the delegation, Peter Masara made a keynote address on behalf of the National Assembly noting that Kenya and Ethiopia enjoy a long-standing history of cultural affinity and diplomatic relations, which need to be nurtured and strengthened, particularly in the realm of trade and investment.
“The economic potential between our two nations is vast, and it is our collective responsibility to harness it for the benefit of our people,” said Masara who is also Suna West MP.
The delegation composed of MPs Peter Kihungi (Kangema) and Kazungu Tungule of Ganze, attended the conference at the invitation of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), which had convened the meeting alongside Addis Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations.
The conference was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from April 23rd to 26th, 2024.
During a separate meeting with the Kenyan Ambassador to Ethiopia George Orina, the Kenyan legislators called for deeper collaboration between the Kenyan investors in the country, as well as other stakeholders to identify key policy gaps that need legislation to boost the Kenya-Ethiopia cross-border trade.
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Kihungi noted that there was a need for more such deliberative forums between Kenyan and Ethiopian stakeholders to streamline policies and align critical standardization gaps for easier trade.
Tungule supported calls for more initiatives to boost inclusive economic growth that benefits all segments of society, through such targeted legislative interventions as the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the creation of conducive conditions for entrepreneurship and innovation.
Speakers at the conference said there was a need to fast-track the conclusion of the mutual recognition agreements to ensure that products that are tested and certified in one country do not need to undergo the process again in the other country.
They noted that this calls for building or mutual trust between the two countries, in addition to the removal of non-tariff barriers to ease trade.
Kenyan investors also undertook exhibitions showcasing some of their products.
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