Kenya’s trade with China to go online

China has moved to tighten its stranglehold as the largest source of Kenya imports, taking the two countries’ commercial ties to the internet to push for more visibility of products and rein in trade in fake goods from the Asian nation.

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and its Chinese counterpart yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding that will ensure strict scrutiny of products entering the country.

An e-commerce platform has also been launched exclusively targeted at marketing goods and services offered by Kenyan exporters and Chinese importers, with a promise on huge discounts for users.

“Kenyans will be assured of getting genuine and authentic products from China…this will save us a lot of trouble while trading with the country,” said KNCCI chairman Kiprono Kittony.

The chamber has cited fraudulent activities on textile and pharmaceutical products from China as some of the challenges to trade between the two nations.

Kenyan exporters will get access to wholesale products from China, find qualified manufacturers, suppliers, exporters and factories from the first online Sino-Africa business platform, Amanbo.com.

Local products will also enjoy free display in China markets with exporters tipped to save cash by cutting travel, accommodation and transportation costs.

The online deal comes amid a report submitted to Chinese lawmakers claiming that more than 40 per cent of items in online trades were shoddy or counterfeit, a major setback for China’s e-Commerce.