Turkey steps up trade in East Africa
Posted by African Press International on June 21, 2012
- Thomas Ochieng reporting for API from Kenya
In a bid to act as the bridge between the developing and the developed world, Turkey has embarked on a massive trade engagement with the East Africa region with Kenya being the hub in the trade engagement. The Turkel trade fair that has been successful carried out in Kenya since the year 2000 which brings together manufactures from Turkey, Kenya, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Indonesia, Iran and Jordan for an international trade fair has created one of the biggest opportunity for the East Africa region business community in finding future partners, technology transfer and new business deals.
The annual event organized by Turkel Fair has through years created an excellent and unique business opportunities to participants from a wide range of manufacturers in a single platform for interaction with potential business community and consumers in an environment that breeds confidence and mutual linkages by both parties.
While officially launching the 2012 Trade fair in Nairobi, the Turkey’s envoy to Kenya H.E Tuncer Kayalar implored the importance of Kenya’s manufacturing sector entering into joint programmes with the visiting trade delegation. “Kenya is the gateway to the East Africa region hence its imperative for Kenya to develop its manufacturing sector to match the big demand in East Africa region by expanding its manufacturing sector by adding value to its raw materials” said the Ambassador. He added that for Kenya to enjoy the benefits of large-scale manufacturing, it has to encourage competition which has ripple effects in encouraging innovation, creation of employment and making finished goods affordable.
These sentiments were echoed by Turkel Fair Chief Executive Officer,Bulent Erten who stressed the importance his organization has placed on Kenya “The East Africa region blessed with a population of over 400 million people, and Kenya being the strategic hub is the natural choice for the investment trade fair of the magnitude so far” He added that the trade fair has the express goal of creating mutual understanding and cooperation between East Africa and the world.
The week-long trade fair that brings over 55 professional exhibitors with a wide range of products ranging from textile, cosmetics, edibles, kitchen ware, automotive, engineering, furniture, clothing lines and footwear among the wide range of products both for domestic and industrial uses.
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