Hon. Phyllis J. Kandie, who was representing H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta at the function, said the Exhibition was taking place within the context of the EAC Industrial Policy and Strategy which aims at enhancing industrial production and productivity to accelerate transformation of economies of the region for sustainable wealth creation, improved income and higher standards of living.
She noted that Micro, Small and Media Enterprises (MSMEs) constitute up to 90% of firms in the EAC with about 60% of employment generation making the enterprises a significant economic player in the region. In this context, the Cabinet Secretary called upon EAC Partner States to deliberately put effort to support the development of the sector.
Hon. Phyllis Kandie also urged the Partner States to develop comprehensive plan to scale up the use of applied sciences and formulate regional technology transfer. “We should set up centers of excellence in major towns across the region which can help upscale the technology within our small scale enterprises as this will promote in them technology adaptation, innovation and creativity” asserted the Hon. Minister.
The Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge informed the guests, exhibitors and show-goers that EAC had been implementing the Customs Union since January 2005 and in January 2010, it (the Customs Union) became fully fledged and Trade statistics from EAC Trade report show significant increase of trade amongst the Partner States. For example in 2012, the total intra-EAC trade increased by 21.9 percent reaching the highest value of US$ 5470.7 Million on account of increased Intra-EAC imports and exports compared to the previous year.
The Deputy Secretary General was affirmative in that the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi exhibitions were proving to be of great value in enabling the Jua Kali artisans and entrepreneurs to recognize and deepen their role within the broader perspective of the region’s development challenge.
“The lively interaction among the Exhibitors is a reflection of the new vibrant spirit for regional integration and development that is emerging in East Africa”, said the EAC official, adding “the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibitions have become both a showcase and a measure of the progress being made in the sector.
To this extent, the exhibitions have attracted a constantly growing number of exhibitors and visitors. The first exhibition attracted 150 exhibitors, and today we note the participation of over 800 exhibitors. Indeed, the Exhibition is fast assuming an international character. Our aim is to establish a world-class exhibition that would attract exhibitors and investors from outside the region as well”.
The CEO of Confederation of Informal Sector Organization (CISO) East Africa Mr. James Njoroge said over the past 14 years, the five East African Partner States through EAC platform had recognized the role played by the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) sector in employment and wealth creation; economic growth; poverty reduction; development of industrial base; and offering excellent opportunities for the development of entrepreneurship and managerial talents.
The CEO disclosed that in Kenya, the sector was estimated to employ 10.5 million people in 2012 accounting for 82.5% of the total number of persons engaged in employment (Economic Survey 2013). In Tanzania, it accounts for 60% of the rural and 40% of the urban employment respectively and contributes 22% of the total labour force. In Uganda, the informal economy employs 90% of total non-farm economically active population and finally in Rwanda, the sector comprises 98% of the businesses and 41% of all private sector employment.
Mr. Njoroge noted that despite the recognition, the sector was still experiencing many constraints that inhibit the realization of its full potential. Some of these constraints include, poor MSE organizations capacity; poor access to credit and financial services; inadequate access to suitable appropriate technology; and lack of markets and market information.
The theme of the Exhibition is Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi (MSEs) for value addition and product quality for EAC industrialization.
Present at the official opening was also Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization and Enterprise Development Hon. Adan Mohamed, EAC Ambassadors based in Nairobi, Principal Secretaries and senior Partner States officials from Ministries of Vocational Training, Industry, East African Community Affairs, and EAC Secretariat.
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