Kenya has offered all support and facilitation to Pakistan, businessmen to capture big market of 38 African states, which are landlocked to Kenya that has international seaport of Mombasa.
"Kenya is gateway to other African states. You people should visit more and strengthen your base in Kenya to sell your products in the entire region," said High Commissioner of Republic of Kenya, Mrs Mishi Maskika Mwatsahu in a meeting with members of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) here at Federation House on Friday.
She was accompanied by her Commercial Attache, Bramah L. Kaleve and Honorary Consul in Karachi, Mohammad Hanif Janoo. Prominent on FPCCI side were President FPCCI, Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed, Vice President FPCCI, Akbar Abdullah, Dr Mushtaq Noorwala, Aziz Damji, Arshad Vohara. FPCCI chief underlined the need to identify Pakistani goods entering Kenya through, a third country, which increased the price for consumers there that could be reduced through direct trade between Kenya and Pakistan.
He informed the meeting that Pakistan had floated tenders for construction of warehouse facility in Kenya, which was very much awaited to increase Pakistan trade share in Africa. Vice President FPCCI, Akbar Abdullah pointed out that high rate of railway fare - from Mombasa seaport to Uganda and other landlocked African states - was a major blockage in Pakistan's trade to Africa.
"Railway fare to Uganda from Mombasa is more than that the shipping charges from Karachi to Mombasa port," he said that makes difficult for Pakistani businessmen to compete. Dr Mushtaq Noorwala complained that the registration of Pakistani pharmaceutical items in Kenya took more than one year against six months, the original official time fixed by Kenyan authorities. Thus, despite qualifying in quality at international standard, Pakistani pharmaceutical companies could not sell their products in Kenya and onwards.
The HC of Kenya assured that the registration process would be expedited. However, she said, any complaints regarding trade with Kenya should be moved through FPCCI so that these could be addressed at priority.