Kenya hopes that small businesses secure new markets and insights from the upcoming East African Community MSMEs trade fair to be held in Tanzania this December.

Trade and Enterprise Development, Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina says the government plans to sponsor 200 small businesses to the exhibition to position them better for business and growth.

Challenges in accessing markets are among the key issues that small businesses face.

The government is banking on the annual East African Community MSMEs trade fair slated to be held in Mwanza, Tanzania this December to help address this through opening up of new market frontiers and bridging technological gaps.

They project that the expo would help 800 small businesses develop new regional business linkages and gain insights to better position themselves for growth.

Over 200 small businesses will be at the exhibition sponsored by government with the hope of helping them improve the quality of their products and make them more competitive.

According to Industrialisation Principal Secretary Amb. Johnson Weru, the exhibition is a platform to showcase government competencies in technology, manufacturing and Agribusiness.

“Kenya was recently categorised as a Middle income country. Therefore, we have to showcase the Government competencies in technology, manufacturing and Agribusiness through the products that will be in the exhibition .” PS Amb. Johnson Weru.

By Fred Azelwa