Bidco Oil Refineries Ltd CEO Vimah Shah has called on manufacturers to align their production with emerging technologies and better working systems to remain competitive and beat the current difficult operating environment.
Shah said while the harsh environment has affected growth in business, it has at the same time presented several opportunities, given the huge demand in local products.
The industrialist said manufacturers must adopt an optimistic mindset and tap into the opportunities especially in value addition to meet both local demand and for export.
“How industrialists view the current business environment depends on the lens you wear. The pessimistic one will say we have no businesses, pockets are down because the government is now attacking the pocket, the consumer spending is going down and that’s a fact. But if you wear the optimistic lens, you say fine, where is the opportunity? What is it that people are consuming, where is it coming from, and what can we do to add value locally. After value addition, can we export the products?” Vimal said.
He at the same time called on the government to walk the talk on supporting local manufacturing through the ‘Buy Kenya Build Kenya’ initiative.
“This is where the whole arm of the government should focus. The intentions are clear that the government wants more local manufacturing but their actions are not in line with that. We just need to align with them,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Maina Karobia who called on East African states to remove non-tariff barriers at border points to enhance regional trade.
Karobia emphasized that with a population of over 350 million, the East African business community should not struggle to find markets in Commonwealth, European, American, and Asian countries when opportunities exist within their own region.
Karobia lamented that despite the good bilateral relations among member states, existing border restrictions have significantly hindered trade.
“We have a strong market in East Africa, yet non-tariff barriers make it difficult for entrepreneurs and businesses to trade freely within the region. Traders are forced to spend excessive time, resources, and money seeking markets overseas, while our own market remains untapped. To empower our business community, we must open our borders,” he stated.
Karobia underscored the urgent need for East Africa to position itself as a competitive economic bloc in the global market.
The two leaders were speaking during an Education and Career Forum organized by Smart Events Solutions, a platform dedicated to guiding students toward career choices that align with the evolving job market.
By Muoki Charles
