Kenya’s Trade Minister Moses Kuria, has announced that the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has selected Nairobi to serve as the host for an international standards centre.
“We are lucky that AfriExim bank has chosen Kenya as the host of an international standards centre,” the Cabinet Secretary stated.
CS Kuria further highlighted the government of Kenya is dedicated to enhancing exports and reducing imports.
This decision, he said, is in line with the overall strategy aimed at ensuring that Kenyan export goods adhere to the most stringent international standards, thereby streamlining their entry into global markets.
“I have this morning chaired a meeting between the Africa Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) and the line departments in quality standards from Kenya,” the CS stated.
He revealed that in collaboration with Afreximbank, Kenya will host a regional large-scale station of AQAC, a globally acknowledged quality assurance centre.
Kuria further explained that the objective of this initiative is to simplify the testing and approval procedures for Kenyan export goods, allowing them to access global markets without obstacles.
Enhancing Global Trade and Infrastructure
“AQAC is a globally recognized quality assurance centre that in partnership with AfriExim bank is in the process of setting up a regional large scale station in Kenya.
“This means, once our products are tested and approved from these stations, they will easily and without any barrier enter into any market in the world,” Kuria noted.
Further, they singled out the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone in Mombasa as the perfect location for hosting the station, due to its strategic placement and ample space for future expansion.
“As the champion of Africa connectivity, I also urged Afreximbank to look into ways of working together to reduce the trade barriers occasioned by a lack of roads, railways, telecommunications, and air transport interconnecting Africa,” Kuria emphasised.
He further underscored the importance of comprehensive infrastructure development to further bolster trade across the continent.
Initially established as a global leader in quality assurance on December 21, 2022, in Ogun State, Nigeria, AQAC has played a crucial role in ensuring that products adhere to international standards, thus facilitating trade and commerce.