Following Somalia’s formal admission into the East African Community (EAC) in November 2023, The Ambassador of Somalia, H.E. Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, paid a courtesy visit to the Chamber President Dr. Erick Rutto .This visit was a follow-up to discussions initiated earlier this month by KNCCI National Director Mr. Omarsadik Dahiye focusing on fostering trade between Kenya and Somalia.

The Embassy expressed a strong interest in collaborating with KNCCI to promote business opportunities between the two nations. This partnership aims to leverage the network of KNCCI members who are already exporting goods to Somalia, particularly miraa (khat). The trade of miraa experienced a significant boost after the renewal of its export to Somalia. This development led to a 76% growth in exports from Kenya to Somalia, reaching a record Sh11.4 billion in the first half of the year. Miraa trade is significant, with an estimated 30 flights daily ferrying the product to Somalia from Kenya.

Additionally, the reinstatement of direct flights by Kenya Airways on February 14, 2024, is expected to further enhance not just trade but also the tourism sectors of both Kenya and Somalia. Another potential area of collaboration is knowledge transfer, given Kenya’s array of high-quality universities.

The Chamber President committed to facilitating smooth business interactions between Kenyan and Somali entrepreneurs. This commitment includes issuing certificates of origin and conducting due diligence on businesses to reduce incidents of trade fraud.