Chinese investors are exploring ways to partner with Kenyan tea factories and farmers to enhance tea marketing in their country.
The investors are targeting to take advantage of the planned International Tea Expo slated from October 28 to October 30 at KICC in Nairobi.
In the exhibition, the Chinese investors are looking forward to engaging tea factory management and farmers, on the opportunities for collaboration in production and marketing tea.
During a one-day tour organised by the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) and the Ministry of Agriculture to tea factories within Murang’a County, the investors asserted that the Tea Expo will bring together the players in the agricultural sector for market interactions.
The team toured Ngere tea factory and privately owned Gatanga Industries, where they sampled the quality of locally processed tea.
Director of research and innovation at the ministry of Agriculture David Ojigo underscored the exhibition, saying it was meant to strengthen bilateral agreements signed between Kenya and China in April this year.
In April, when President William Ruto visited the Asian country, more than 20 bilateral agreements valued at USD$ 590 million were signed.
Mr Ojigo observed that the bilateral agreements sought to boost trade between the two countries, with China committed to increasing imports of premium Kenyan agricultural products, including tea, avocados, macadamia and coffee, among others.
He added that in the preparations for the expo, a team will be going around counties identifying products that can be marketed in China so as to enhance farmers’ income.
“Other sectors targeted for enhanced export include beef, dairy and oil crops. The government’s aim is to move from traditional markets and explore new opportunities with a target of increasing earnings,” he observed.
The Chairman of the Kenya China Asia Trade Investment Promotion Initiative, Richard Ndung’u, said there is a vast market for Kenya’s agricultural produce in China; thus, there’s a need for the locals to engage in the exhibition and learn more.
“China’s market is starved for Kenya’s tea, coffee, dairy products, macadamia, and avocado, among other products; thus, there is a need for local business people and farmers to be at the exhibition to learn more,” added Ndung’u.
Mr Flacko Wang from Honxiuy Sparkle Exp, who led the team of investors, said China has a huge market for Kenyan products, including tea, coffee, macadamia, avocado, milk, and beef, among others.
He noted that representatives of tea companies in China will attend the expo and interact with local farmers and tea factory management.
“We are seeking opportunities to export more products from Kenya to China. Currently we are visiting various farms and factories as we also market our technology in production and packaging,” he added.
Wang noted that some Kenyan tea factories have embraced Chinese technology and machinery in the value chain from tea picking to packaging, lauding the collaboration between the two countries.
“With use of modern technology, I am optimistic tea factories will enhance productivity and efficiency,” he observed.
Wang underscored the function of the exhibition, saying it will play a key role between Kenya’s farmers and the Chinese investors in the marketing of the agricultural produce, support the cost reduction through the production in the value chain, and aid the conservation of the environment.
By Bernard Munyao
