A celebration in honor of Qatar National Day was held today in Nairobi at Kempinski hotel.

The event was organized by the Qatar Embassy in Kenya under the leadership of HE Ambassador Jabor Al Dosari who was present during the celebrations.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) was part of the celebrations and represented by the Chamber 2nd Vice President Ms. Fatma Elmaawy.

Gracing the event as the Chief guest was the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Interior and Coordination Dr. Fred Matiang’i.

Among those present were Director of Public Prosecutions Dr. Noordin Haji, Iran Ambassador to Kenya Dr. Jafar Barmaki, H.E. Amb Al Harthy Oman, Secretary and CEO UN Habitat Madam Maimunah Sharif and many others.

Established on 21st June 2007, Qatar national day is celebrated every 18th of December to mark the anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani. In 1878, Sheikh Jassim unified the peninsula bordered by Saudi Arabia and surrounded by the Persian Gulf.This Day is also referred to as the ‘Founder’s Day’.

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H.E the President of the Republic of Malawi Dr. Lazurus McCarthy Chakwera today graced the Malawi Investment Forum held at Serena Hotel in Nairobi.

Under the theme, “Malawi, a Haven of Investment and Trade Opportunities“, the forum brought together the public and private sectors from both countries, to share their Investment opportunities.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry team and a number of its members attended this inaugural Malawi investment forum led by the 2^nd Vice Chamber President (VCP) Ms. Fatma Elmaawy.

In his address, H.E Lazurus Chakwera highlighted that Malawi is a land of untapped opportunities including but not limited to generation of renewable energy and distribution.

The president called on Kenyan investors to take advantage of the limitless opportunities in Malawi, committing that Malawi is ready to accommodate Kenyan investors. This he said is possible because of the ease of doing business that is facilitated by the One Stop Service Centre-  at the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre that supports investors to obtain services at one go.

Ms. Fatma Expressed gratitude to H.E President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for choosing Kenya as a strategic business partner to foster joint bilateral cooperation through trade and investment. She indicated that the private sector plays a big role in supporting the economic recovery process and that the Chamber is an essential partner in the economic recovery process, and will continue to work with governments and other partners to support policy making that promotes economic response & recovery efforts.

“It is important that Kenya and Malawi work harmoniously to improve the business climate in order to advance each other’s economies by upholding the principles of mutual respect & benefits across all fronts”, said Ms. Elmaawy.

She therefore welcomed Malawian investors to work together with Kenya to support and realize the African Continental Free Trade Area  (AFCTA) dream.

Speaking on behalf of Mr. Richard Ngatia who is the Chamber President and Chair of the Great Lakes Private Sector Forum, the 2nd VCP gave an assurance that KNCCI will support the private sector component in the pursuit of strong, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth that benefit all. She extended the Invitation to Malawi to join Kenya in the Great lakes investment conference to be held on 22^nd to 24^th November, 2021 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Those who spoke at the event included the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development Hon. Betty Maina, Minister of Trade of the Republic of Malawi Hon. Sosten Gwengwe, and CEO Kenya Private Alliance Ms. Carole Kanuki.

Others were, High Commissioner of Malawi to Kenya Amb. Agrina Mussa and Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade and Enterprise Development Amb. Johnson Weru.

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The partnership will seek to;

• Support National Insurance intake in the Country
• Collaborate in advocacy issues in terms of cost of medication
• Develop a Pharmaceutical Industrial programs and Medical Tourism
• Introduce the innovative products that will target SMEs in the insurance sector to promote business survival.
• Form a Joint Business Venture with Chamber to support insurance sector to manage enterprise sector.

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Present during the meeting were;
1. Sakina Asman- KNCCI Communications Officer
2. Beatrice Kosgey- General Manger, legal Affairs and Company Secretary GDC
3. Dr. George Muia- general Manager, Research and Innovation GDC
4. Wanjiru Kamara- Manager, Corporate Communications GDC

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He highlighted a number of activities that we are undertaking such as; Training, hosting of virtual webinars on different topical areas, our engagement with Counties on enterprise survival mechanism and supply programs on essential services.

He went ahead and informed the meeting of our strategic partners with other stakeholders and financial institutions on our proposed partnership to cushion SMEs on cash flow issues and financial inclusion through trainings and skills development targeting 3million enterprises.

The Cabinet Secretary thanked the team for the courtesy call and the contribution of the Private sector to the national economy. He noted the role of Chamber in policy advocacy, enterprise development, attraction of investments and FDIs and the role of Chambers in the Counties.

He informed the team that to support COVID-19 recovery process through the budget allocation, there are various proposals to cushion SMEs through the SME credit guarantee scheme that will be used to widen access to credit. On the same note, treasury is keen to engage key stakeholders to proposals on how to improve the same scheme. In the meantime, he is engaging other stakeholders to buy in the scheme before the launch in July 2020.

Moving forward, he suggested that Chamber will be invited to have discussions on the proposed credit guarantee scheme. He also informed the team that the Treasury has introduced a micro pension scheme that will want to support small businesses on future savings and program is still under review.

He advised Chamber to be proactive on policy programs, engage ministry of Trade and Industry with key proposals that will support SMEs intervention with the possibility of Government support.

The CS concluded by saying that he is looking forward to working with Chamber on numerous program that will contribute to the national economy.

Accompanying the CP were, Chamber 2nd Vice President Fatma Elmaawy, Company Secretary Mr. Kihara Njuguna, Director Omar Sadiq, Elisha Godana, Hassan Wario, Chamber Chief Operating Officer Mr. Patrick Nyangweso and Onesmus Masinde.

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Speaking during the signing ceremony, Chamber President Richard Ngatia said, “The agreement will provide a platform to support and strengthen trade and investment programmes across the counties”.

He further went on to say, “This is an opportunity for KNCCI County Chapters and County Governments to access precise and accurate information to promote business partnerships, understand business procedures and the applicable laws in the counties,” he said.

In his remarks COG Chairman, H.E Honorable Wycliffe Oparanya expressed his delight with the engagement of the KNCCI county chambers in support of business amidst COVID-19. He went on to say, “With the capacity within KNCCI we can work together address to develop a harmonized taxation regime.” “COG will continue to collaborate with KNCCI to revive all those SMEs affected by this pandemic as we are about to re-open our economy,” he said.

During the meeting H.E. Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya appointed the Chamber President, Richard Ngatia as the Special Business Advisor to the COG on matters Trade and Investment, to ensure tax harmonization within the counties creating an enabling environment for SMEs post COVID-19.

The agreement will also see the Chamber get precise and accurate information to promote business partnerships, understand methods and procedures for doing business in the counties and the prevailing laws and regulations and the most important investments opportunities.

It will also seek to support and take joint activities in trade and investment, business policy reforms, capacity building, information sharing, joint technical programmes and activities among others.

The Chamber first signed an MoU with the Council of Governors in 2015 with significant achievements and milestone in the undertakings such as: carrying out Joint Investment and Trade Conferences in almost 16  Counties; Jointly conducted business forums in 38 Counties, jointly participated as a key partner and stakeholder in the County Devolution Conferences and also Implemented key policy, advocacy and business reforms programme in the counties.

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The ripple effect of COVID-19 on economic activities, livelihoods and food security in East Africa and the Great Lakes. Governments throughout the region moved swiftly to adopt far-reaching measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, including the closure of international borders, movement restrictions, curfews and lockdowns.

While these measures appear to have curbed the pandemic’s progression, its negative repercussions have led to a near-total halt to air transport, tourism, agriculture and other extractive industry activities.

To discuss the impact of Covid-19 in Africa and the future of Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), East Africa Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, the Great Lakes Region Private Sector Forum organized a webinar session to discuss and identify opportunities for Covid-19 recovery mechanism and way forward for AfCFTA trade and integration.

To help consolidate the highlights KNCCI together with the fore mentioned partners brought on board panelist representatives from: Secretary General of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ms. Olive Kigongo; Chairman of the East Africa Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Mr. Kahotho; Director UNECA- Regional Integration and Trade Division, Mr. Stephen Karingi, PhD; Director, UNECA- ECA Sub-Regional Office for East Africa, Mama Keita, Senior Trade Advisor Ministry of Trade ,Mr. George DInda

Topics Discussed.

• Opportunities that AfCFTA presents
• Impact of Covid-19 on trade Facilitation and Performance in Africa
• Mechanism put in place to support regional markets and supply chain stabilization in the post Covid-19
• Possible Economic Stimulus and Fiscal measures taken to cushion businesses
• Critical economic sectors that needs priority in the Covid-19 recovery process
• Impact of Covid-19 on the EAC businesses and the Government Responses
• Post Covid-19 economic recovery measures that needs to be implemented to support private sector to contribute to the AfCFTA and Trade Integration Agenda

1. Opportunities that AfCFTA presents

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement presents Africa with a unique opportunity to unleash its economic potential for inclusive growth and sustainable development.  It aims to promote agricultural transformation and growth in Africa and contribute to food security, as well as improve competitiveness through regional agricultural value chains development and incentivize critical investments in production and marketing infrastructure.

In his opening remarks, the UNECA Regional Director, Integration and Trade Division, Dr. Stephen Karingi stated that that AfCFTA has the potential to deepen not only the regional integration of the continent but also has allowed the African countries to do more of value addition in the production processes. According to UNECA, it is estimated that by 2020, AfCFTA will increase significantly and that two-thirds of this increase would be on value addition.

Dr. Karingi, said the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could help mitigate effects of COVID-19, especially on pharmaceuticals and food stuffs.

“A rapid and ambitious implementation of the AfCFTA will go a long way in hastening the recovery from COVID-19 impacts, while cushioning Africa against future adverse effects of shocks such as this,” said Dr. Karingi.

Africa spends billions on drugs annually and depends heavily on China and other countries in Europe and Asia for its pharmaceutical supply, some of which are badly affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Karingi said African countries could start manufacturing the drugs themselves, which would not only be cheaper, but would also help secure the quality and safety of supply; and contribute to financial sustainability as import bills are increasing across the continent.

AfCFTA had agreed on five priority services – financial services, communication, transport, tourism and business services – and will engage in the negotiations through a request and offer process to make specific sector commitments. Due to Covid-19 the member’s states are now re negotiating to add services such as E-commerce, Health and Digital Education.

In the ensuing discussion, the EACCIA Chairman, Mr. Kahotho echoed that critical role KNCCI has to play for the successful implementation of the AfCFTA agenda. Mandated to facilitate trade, KNCCI must see that during this time of the pandemic, trade must be facilitated so that jobs can be created and also to see that we add value to our natural resources.

2. Possible Economic Stimulus and Fiscal measures taken to cushion businesses

The UNECA – ECA Sub – Regional Office for East Africa, Mama Keita stated that the Covid -19 crisis has shown the role that the state must play in the development process in the respective countries. Most countries are now rising to the challenge and cushioning businesses through the following measures:

• A liquidity be made available to the private sector to ensure the continuity of essential purchases and all SMEs that are dependent on trade can continue to function.
• Emergency economic stimulus.
• Waiver of all interest payments
• Flexibility in taxation
• Payments of areas to private sectors
• And Government provision of guarantors to SMEs
• Subsidies

3. Critical economic sectors that needs priority in the Covid-19 recovery process

• Health
• Tourism
• Logistics
• Constructions
• Domestic markets
• Agriculture

4. Mechanism put in place to support regional markets and supply chain stabilization in the post Covid-19

According to the Ugandan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Secretary General, Ms. Brenda, Uganda Has put the following measures;

• Support to domestic markets and encouragement of consumption of domestic goods
• Allowing movement of essential goods and services by not restricting the logistic industry
• Ensuring that there are adequate storage facilities to cushion spoilage of perishable goods
• Encouraging value addition to the agricultural sector products

5. Impact of Covid-19 on the EAC businesses and the Government Responses

• Inadequate access to sourcing raw materials
• Facing cross border restrictions
• Decline of Export market
• Decline in sales

6. Post Covid-19 economic recovery measures that needs to be implemented to support private sector to contribute to the AfCFTA and Trade Integration Agenda.

• Consumption of local products
• Securing the demand and supply for locally produced goods
• Support innovation, manufacturing
• African Countries should trade amongst themselves
• There must be access to liquidity and new financial means in the future
• Deepen and strengthen the African financial markets
• Resource mobilization
• Ensuring competitiveness amongst African countries
• Deepening regional value chain

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The meeting was held to discuss the following:

Collaborative support on relief, both health and economic targeting vulnerable populations and SMEs with greater focus on post Covid-19

• Roll out Interventions that will cushion population against the current floods, food shortage and interruption of normal essential services by the Covid-19 Pandemic
• Support public health education, preparedness and measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19
• Strengthening the capacity of businesses on continuity and survival of SMEs
• Improve food nutrition security, and improve the quality of natural resources and ecosystem services amongst others.

The delegation agreed to engage further and to commit on the level of implementation of the MoU in the next 3 years in order to deliver on its expected outcome.

They expressed satisfaction over the MoU scope of cooperation and implementation matrix.

They agreed to consider expediting the finalization of this MoU, expressing gratitude to KNCCI and HRI for offering its consent in this regard.

The meeting agreed to endeavor to revert by Monday 18th May 2020 on the process of internal consultations by respective organizations based on the discussions of the meeting.

The meeting was grace by Hon. Abdul Bahari Ali, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Devolution and ASAL.

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The County Government of Nyeri through the Department of Gender, Youth and Social Services has partnered with the National Government to ensure that 100 street children within Nyeri town are accommodated at Thunguma Children’s Home and Rehabilitation Centre. The street children while being rehabilitated will acquire knowledge and skills at the centre which will serve them in the future.

KNCCI Nyeri branch Chairman Ibrahim Ndegwa said this will remove the children from the dangers of the streets which include the COVID-19 pandemic.

This initiative is one of the measures taken to shield the possible COVID-19 risk areas identified by the County Emergency Response Committee co-chaired by the Governor H.E Mutahi Kahiga and the County Commissioner Loyford Kibara one of them being the street children who if uncatered for, are left exposed.

Mr Ibrahims Ndegwa who was accompanied by branch county director Isaac Gichohi Mwangi and philanthropic businessman Bipin Shah also appealed to the Nyeri business community to come up and raise funds to help vulnerable people in the county during this time of coronavirus pandemic.

Nyeri County Secretary Ben Gachichio and Youth CEC Esther Ndung’u who received the donation thanked the branch for their kind donation saying it will go a long way in improving the lives of the street kids who have been suffering in town.

CEC Ndung’u said this will be a continuous process to ensure the children are protected and have as many chances for a better future as other children in the society.

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To ensure business continuity, having an emergency plan is essential. In the current situation, it is vital to react as fast as possible in order to mitigate against impact and other risks and to prepare organizations for the further escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the scenarios that may unfold.

This disruptive business environment emphasizes the need for businesses to put in place robust business continuity plans (BCPs), which anticipate a broad range of events that could create severe disruption for the business.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has been in the forefront in proposing  both short and long term measures to support the  Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) particularly at the County level to continue with their business activities with minimal interruptions and ensure sustainability.  To lessen the risk of business discontinuity, KNCCI lead by its President Mr. Richard Ngatia today held a virtual discussion with its selected County chairmen (Mombasa, Narok, Nyandarua and Bungoma) and in absentia, H. E Dr. Wycliffe Wangamati; Governor Bungoma County to discuss:

• Intervention measures and mechanism adopted to ensure Business Continuity
• Policies effected to enhance Business Sustainability
• Market intervention and protection of the value chain aggregators
• Cross boarder challenges
• Rent and Labour Protection measures

1. Intervention Measures and Mechanisms adopted by the Counties to ensure Business Continuity

• Installation of sensitization and fumigated booths for Mombasa – Likoni Ferry users.
• Sensitization of business communities on sanitization, social distancing, masks wearing and hand washing.
• Fumigation of open air markets
• Digging of boreholes to ensure free and efficient water to the communities.

2. Policies effected to enhance business sustainability

The county chapters have each in their own capacities collaborated with County governments to:

• Waiver fee on all taxes for the hotel Industry and transportation (Mombasa)
• Implementation of food relief programs; Mombasa chapter in collaboration with Mombasa County Government has launched a Household and nutrition program to help provide food of nutritional value to vulnerable groups affected during this pandemic. On the other hand, Bungoma chapter in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross Society of Kenya and the County Government of Bungoma has a fundraising kitty (Donating in kind) to help distribute food to its community.
• Extension of single business permits and licenses to small business traders and public service vehicles providing essential goods and services.

3. Cross Boarder Issues

• Contributing to this, KNCCI Mombasa chapter chair Mr. Mustapha stated that the chapter has collaborated with the County Government to streamline the movement of essential goods and services in and out of Mombasa. The County has also ensured that all medical equipment and PPE s are given first priority at the port of Mombasa when it comes to clearance.
• In Bungoma, the chapter through the County Government has ensured that the Uganda boarder remains operational to allow provision and constant flow of essential goods and services.

4. Rent and Labour Protection Measures

On the issue on rent to pay or not, the County chapter chairmen suggested that for this to happen:

• The national government should waiver all taxes for landlords for at least size months or a year.
• Banks to temporarily stop charging interests and also delay principal charges on all loans owed by the landlords.
• Actions to Support SMEs
• Encourage SMEs to adopt e-commerce
• Banks and other online lenders to roll over loans owned by SMEs to June 2020 to allow SMEs continue doing business.

5. KNCCI Women in Business Contribution

In her remarks, Women in Business chairperson Ms. Nato stressed that;

• Women be appointed to the response committee at each county.
• Women be involved in the identification process of vulnerable groups that needs support during this pandemic.
• Nato said that the WIB committee has come up with “Support a tailor to support a retailer” initiative to support the fashion industry and retailers by producing masks that are in return distributed to small business owners.

H.E Governor Dr. Wycliffe Wangamati: County Government of Bungoma statement National Economic and Business Response

1. Need to cushion employees on possibility of loss of income.

Initiative

1. Increase Disposable Income to Kenyans. Actions are as below:
2. 100% Tax relief for persons earning gross monthly income of up to Ksh. 24,000
3. Reduction of P.A.Y.E from 30% to 25%
4. Reduction of Corporation tax from 30% to 25%
5. Reduction of Turnover Tax from 3% to 1% for all MSMEs.
6. Need to cushion and support the elderly, orphans and other vulnerable members of society.

The government to give an additional 10 billion to the elderly of which Ksh. 8.5 have been disbursed.

1. Need to increase access to credit for business: the government has temporarily suspended listing with Credit Reference Bureau.
2. Resource Mobilization: Need to facilitate the functioning of the National Response to COVID-19 committees. All coordinated National Response Committees to provide their resource requirements. This has been done by successfully establishing a COVID-19 response fund and so far funds collected amount to Ksh. 1 billion.

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