The National Organizing Committee for the 23rd East African Community (EAC) Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair has announced that the highly anticipated event is set to take place from December 5th to 15th, 2023.
The fair, a regional showcase of MSMEs, will be hosted in the picturesque city of Bujumbura, Burundi.
The Micro and Small Enterprise Authority, with an extensive network of 400 Constituency Industrial Development Centres (CIDCs) and worksites, is set to play a pivotal role in the event.
These CIDCs provide essential common-use manufacturing facilities and tools for MSMEs, promoting industrialization and economic growth.
The Cabinet Secretary (CS) of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Micro, and Medium Enterprise Development, Simon Chelugui, emphasized the event’s alignment with the East African industrialization strategy.
He stated, “The theme equally resonates with the East African industrialization strategy to increase intra-regional manufacturing of exports relative to total manufactured goods in the region to at least 25% by 2032.”
In light of the recent global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chelugui stressed the importance of maintaining a robust business recovery trajectory.
He highlighted the need to harness local resources and deepen value chain frameworks as critical strategies for sustained economic growth.
Chelugui encouraged participating Kenyan entrepreneurs to leverage the platform for knowledge-sharing, forging new business linkages, launching products, and undertaking test marketing.
He emphasized the potential for enhancing brand visibility and corporate image across the East African market.
Furthermore, the CS urged both private and public sector players to facilitate more venues for interaction, enabling the collective address of common challenges and the exploration of growth opportunities for MSMEs in the current market landscape.
He said the government is actively exploring new avenues to bolster regional trade and enhance enterprise export competitiveness for high-potential products.
Chelugui underscored the need for a high degree of sector readiness and organization to meet stringent international quality and quantity requirements, potentially accessing premium price segments.
Henry Rithaa, Director of the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, expressed confidence in the participation of approximately 1500 MSMEs from all EAC Member States in Burundi.
Kenya, in particular, aims to showcase and sell products from at least 300 enterprises, fostering peer-to-peer connections and market learning.
Rithaa reassured attendees that the organization is attuned to the key priority sectors outlined in the Kenya Kwanzaa government’s economic development agenda.
He emphasized the commitment to driving bottom-up economic transformation and development.
