The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has taken a decisive step forward in positioning the Kenyan private sector at the heart of international trade

The forum, themed “Bridging Markets, Building Futures: Kenya-Saudi Arabia Business Partnership for Shared Prosperity,” served as a prime platform for robust commercial diplomacy.

Representing the voice of over 50,000 businesses across Kenya’s 47 counties, Mr. Mustafa Ramadhan, the Vice President of KNCCI and Co-Chair of the Kenya–Saudi Joint Business Council (Kenyan Side), delivered an impactful, numbers-driven speech addressing the realities and untapped potential of the bilateral relationship.

Mr. Ramadhan directly confronted the current trade imbalance, noting that bilateral trade currently stands at approximately USD 1.2 billion annually. However, Kenya’s exports to the Kingdom accounted for only about USD 200 million against USD 1 billion in imports.

“In plain language: for every one dollar Kenya sells to Saudi Arabia, we buy five,” Mr. Ramadhan noted candidly. “Our ambition is not to buy less from you — it is to sell you far more, and to bring far more Saudi capital into Kenya.”

Highlighting Kenya’s strategic geographic advantage—with fresh produce, tea, coffee, cut flowers, and livestock positioned just four to five flying hours from Riyadh and Jeddah—the Vice President asserted that KNCCI is actively transforming intent into action. He detailed key interventions being spearheaded by the Chamber to remove trade frictions and unlock market access:

• An Active Joint Business Council: Transitioning the Council into a continuous operational engine featuring an annual alternating calendar between Riyadh and Nairobi, specialized sector working groups, and a strict 90-day follow-up rule for B2B meetings.

• Chamber-to-Chamber Frameworks: Partnering with the Federation of Saudi Chambers to share vetted business databases and market intelligence.

• Systemic Trade Facilitation: Direct advocacy for the mutual recognition of standards and halal certification, trade finance reach via Saudi Ex-Im Bank instruments, and the development of direct air cargo and Mombasa–Jeddah sea links supported by cold-chain investments.

Mr. Ramadhan concluded with a firm commitment to Saudi buyers and investors, emphasizing that KNCCI will match them with credible Kenyan counterparts and protect transactional momentum. “We did not travel to Riyadh to exchange business cards. We came to exchange contracts,” he stated.

The event was saw by significant political and organizational backing, aimed at accelerating public-private synergy. H.E. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, EGH, Prime Cabinet Secretary and CS for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, delivered a keynote address offering a strong political endorsement of the trade partnership. Mudavadi highlighted Kenya’s strategic priorities within the Saudi market and emphasized that structured platforms like the Saudi-Kenyan Joint Business Council Meeting & Business-to-Business (B2B) Sessions are crucial for establishing direct corporate links, eliminating intermediaries, and securing high-value export contracts.

The economic forum also brought together influential institutional leaders from both nations to anchor these trade efforts:

• H.E. Mr. Abdullah Saleh Kamel, Chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, and Mr. Mubarak Lahem Alammar, Chairman of the Saudi-Kenyan Business Council (Saudi Side), hosted the delegation and expressed immense Saudi private-sector enthusiasm for expanding ties.

• Ms. Floice Mukabana, CEO of the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA), presented a comprehensive overview of the bilateral trade landscape, mapping high-potential sectors like horticulture, leather, meat, and dairy.

• Norah Ratemo, Director General of the Kenya Development Corporation (KDC), showcased Kenya’s priority pipeline of investment-ready projects spanning special economic zones, green energy, tourism, and post-harvest management.

Through the leadership of KNCCI and the active engagement of Co-Chair Mustafa Ramadhan, Kenyan businesses are now equipped with the institutional framework required to turn diplomatic goodwill into tangible, profitable cross-border contracts.

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The delegation was received by KNCCI Vice President Mustafa Ramadhan, accompanied by National Director (Upper Eastern Region) Abdullahi Hersi.

The visit forms part of the delegation’s fact-finding mission to assess the business conduct of Chinese-funded enterprises in Kenya and to promote the development of a transparent, ethical, and mutually beneficial government-business relationship. The delegation also sought to better understand KNCCI’s role in protecting the interests of the private sector and contributing to the improvement of Kenya’s business environment.

Speaking during the meeting, KNCCI Vice President Mustafa Ramadhan highlighted the Chamber’s commitment to advocating for evidence-based policies and legislation that create a fair and competitive business environment while safeguarding the interests of businesses operating in Kenya.

He noted that KNCCI continues to create market opportunities for its members through strategic partnerships, business networking forums, and both inbound and outbound trade missions. He further explained that the Chamber has been instrumental in supporting Chinese investors by facilitating access to the relevant government agencies for licensing and permit applications, thereby eliminating the need for intermediaries and making market entry more efficient.

Mustafa also emphasized KNCCI’s role in guiding foreign investors on Kenya’s labour regulations and local content requirements to ensure compliance with the country’s legal and regulatory framework while promoting responsible investment.

National Director Hersi encouraged Chinese enterprises to continue expanding their investments in Kenya, citing agro-processing, mining, and light manufacturing as sectors with significant untapped potential for growth and collaboration.

Besides KNCCI, the delegation is also scheduled to hold meetings with the Kenya Investment Authority and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission as part of its broader mission to understand Kenya’s investment climate, governance structures, and measures aimed at promoting integrity and accountability in business.

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The Kenya–Kazakhstan Business Forum marked a major milestone in strengthening economic ties between the two countries, with the event being graced by the President of Kenya, William Ruto, and the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, alongside senior government officials and business leaders from both nations.

During the forum, KNCCI Vice President  delivered a keynote address highlighting the untapped trade potential between Kenya and Kazakhstan. He noted that the current trade relationship remains largely “one product, one direction,” with Kenyan tea dominating exports to Kazakhstan, and called for a broader and more balanced trade basket between the two countries.

He emphasized the need to deepen commercial cooperation by increasing the presence of Kazakhstan products in the Kenyan market, particularly fertilizer to support Kenya’s agricultural sector, while also encouraging direct importation of Kenyan flowers and fresh produce from Kenya.

The forum also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between KNCCI and the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan, aimed at enhancing business collaboration, facilitating trade missions, promoting investment opportunities, and strengthening private sector partnerships between East Africa and Central Asia.

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The President of the Departmental Council of Mayotte H.E Ben Issa Ousseni and the Mayor of Mamoudzou Ambdilwahedou Soumaïla have signaled a significant pivot toward Kenya, favoring the nation over traditional trading partners like Madagascar and Mozambique. This preference is rooted in:

• Strong Cultural and Educational Ties: Many Mahorais youth are currently pursuing their studies in Kenya, creating a foundation of mutual understanding.
• Infrastructure Synergy: Kenya has been heavily involved in shipbuilding efforts to assist Mayotte’s recovery following recent cyclones.
• Connectivity: The two territories are linked by four to five direct flights weekly between Nairobi and Dzaoudzi, a weekly maritime service between Mombasa and Longoni, and a submarine cable.
• Policy Shifts: The repeal of regulations forbidding trade with Africa has cleared the path for Kenya to become a primary partner.

H.E Ben Issa Ousseni particularly highlighted the agricultural sector stands as the most “immediate and bankable” opportunity for both nations.

• Kenya as the Producer: Kenyan exporters are positioned to supply a vast range of goods, including cassava and bananas.
• The Meat Trade: While Mayotte currently works with Madagascar for meat, Kenya is now positioned to supply halal-certified meat and poultry.
• Contract Farming & Value Addition: A unique model is proposed where Kenya is contracted to produce agricultural goods while Mayotte focuses on value-adding processes.
• Market Access: Under the Kenya–EU Economic Partnership Agreement, Kenyan goods enjoy duty-free and quota-free access to Mayotte, which serves as a strategic gateway into the wider European single market.

Beyond goods he said Mayotte has made a specific call for labor migration, particularly seeking skilled professionals in the c. As Mayotte modernizes its public infrastructure including a multi-billion-euro pipeline for new hospitals and schools Kenyan expertise is viewed as a vital component of this growth.

To ensure these opportunities transition from dialogue to reality, Vice President Mustafa Ramadhan called for:

Permanent Business Desk: A joint desk with the Mayotte Chamber (CCIM) to host importer/exporter rosters and provide a single channel for trade enquiries and ensure importers and exporters get standardization Support. This is special important with focus on helping Kenyan firms meet strict EU phytosanitary standards to ensure seamless entry into the Mahorais market.

Further, Mayotte has called on Kenya to play a part in regional integration: Kenya has been urged to participate in the Interreg VI Mozambique Channel Operational Programme, further embedding the country into the Indian Ocean’s cooperation architecture.

“As Mayotte embarks on a massive reconstruction phase, Kenya is no longer just a neighbor, but a primary partner in building a resilient, circular, and highly integrated regional economy,” H.E Ben Issa Ousseni said

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