The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), in partnership with the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry (MITI), has launched the 7th edition of the Annual Changamka Kenya Shopping Festival.
The event, set to take place from 5th to 9th of November 2024 at Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, aims to provide an opportunity to showcase the high quality of locally manufactured products and unpack various policy issues.
The Principal Secretary, State Department of Industry, Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, Dr. Juma Mukhwana, stated that the festival provides an opportunity to showcase the country’s manufacturing potential.
“Industrialisation remains an important factor in the country’s strategy to achieve sustainable economic growth,” he emphasized.
Speaking during the launch in Nairobi Tuesday, the PS revealed that the government has implemented several policies and interventions to assist local manufacturers.
“We have developed affordable housing as well as affordable industrial services, which would cater for 19 counties,” he said, noting that about 90 per cent of Kenya’s industrialisation comes from Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kilifi.
Mukhwana mentioned that through the Ministry, the government is building industrial spaces on government land to promote rural industrialisation.
“We are partnering with the national government where the county government will identify a piece of land and the national government will provide funds to cater for development,” he said.
The PS further said that the government is developing special economic zones in Mombasa and Naivasha in which some companies have already been allocated spaces.
He at the same time announced that the Ministry has already concluded the Kenya-UK economic partnership agreement that allows Kenya to sell products in the United Kingdom.
The Acting KAM Chief Executive Officer, Tobias Alando, said their vision is to create prosperity for the nation through sustainable industrialisation while focusing on growing the manufacturing sector and creating employment in the country.
“Changamka means to get excited, and so we are looking forward to every one of you and the public getting excited and to come see what the local manufacturers can do,” added Alando.
The Acting CEO said for one to be globally competitive, they have to be locally competitive, which is why KAM, in partnership with various organisations, has organised the festival to showcase what the country has to offer in terms of quality and diversity.
“We aim to promote employment, increase the tax basket, and support local manufacturers under the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya initiative,” revealed Alando.
He noted that the Changamka festival serves as a critical tool of public awareness by helping Kenyans understand the importance of buying locally manufactured goods and the direct impact it has on the manufacturing industry through job creation and economic development.
So far, the festival is set to have more than 200 exhibitors from all manufacturing sectors who will be showcasing their products, and out of that figure, 100 will be manufacturing Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs), since 62 per cent of their members are SMEs.
By Glory Mukhwana and Manu Mumba
