India – Kenya building new opportunities in textile and machinery

 India ITME Society organises India Networking Programme at Nairobi, Kenya to promote its 11th edition.

India ITME Society, the non-profit apex industry body from India organised “India Networking Programme” at Nairobi, Kenya to promote the 11th edition of India ITME which is to be held in India Exposition Mart Limited, Greater Noida, U P, from 8th – 13th December 2022.

Kenya today is focused on its developing value chain. There is an abundance of raw materials so Kenya can strategically partner with India for gaining experience not only for developing strong dominance in the spinning segment but also encash on the excellent state of art machinery manufactured by the Indian players. It is an opportunity not only for India but also for Kenya to bring in investment from India by showcasing its strong roots and culture in textiles and channelling investors and big players from India for growth and expansion of all.

Kenya has strong roots in the textile Industry and for years has been an entry point for sea trade and transport from Asian & Arabian countries. The textiles & apparel export in FY2021 has grown by 5% as compared to FY2017 however its imports in FY2021 have also increased by 10%. The market is driven by the imports of Man Made fibres having a share of more than 97% in total fibre imports having recorded worth US$ 73.3 million in FY2021.  With a strong taste for fashion and skills the country in terms of value addition is directly exporting the end product i.e. garmenting,  from the preliminary look, the country is having an excellent textile background with few missing lines where India & Kenya strategic alliance can play a major role.

Kenya imports most of its textile engineering and technology requirements. Its imports were highest in FY2018 recording purchases worth US$ 41.88 mn where spinning machinery was alone accountable for 28% of purchases followed by weaving and processing machinery. The imports of US$ 18.53 mn in FY2021 showed more inclination towards import of garmenting 35% share and processing machinery having a share of 31%. Spinning machinery one of the promising sector accounted for a 5% share. Majority of the machines around 44% were imported from China. India is the second highest exporter of textile machinery with a share of 29% showing the strong presence of India in the Kenya market.

From (L-R): Seema Srivastava, Executive Director, India ITME Society; Claire Terigin, General Manager, Investment & Corporate Communications, Export Promotion Zone Authority, (EPZA); Rohit Vadhwana, Deputy High Commissioner of India in Kenya and The Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UNEP and UN-Habitat; Patricia B A Aruwa, Deputy Director – Industries Business Environment and Private Sector Development Directorate Ministry of Industrialization Trade and Enterprise Development; S Hari Shankar, Chairman, India ITME Society; Ben Oluoch Olunya, Board Chairman, Export Promotion Zone Authority, (EPZA); Richard Ngatia, President, The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Ann Wamae, Technical-Consultant, Textile and Apparel Ministry of Industry, Trade and Enterprise Development, H E Amb; Isaiya Kabira , Director General International conferences, Media Events and Public Communications – Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kenya; Omarsadik Mohamed Dahiye – National Director, Economic Diplomacy, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry & Ketan Sanghvi, Hon Treasurer ,India ITME Society.

ITME 2022 hosted in India brings maximum market opportunities to interact with the biggest and the best of the machinery manufacturers in the industry.

Visiting and participating at India ITME 2022 is perfect opportunity to connect with worldwide customers and new opportunity post pandemic.

India ITME 2022 is expected to host more than 1,500 exhibitors from Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America in 22 Chapters with over 1,50,000 visitors over the 6 days period. This is a once in 4-year opportunity to view live machineries from across the world on display from 22 chapters & meet agents, dealers, government officials on one platform years making India ITME 2022 the apex B2B event in the textile & textile Engineering Industry in the whole of South East Asian region.

S Hari Shankar, Chairman, India ITME Society, formally extended an invitation to India ITME 2022 in December to “Explore the Soul of Textiles”. He also encouraged an official delegation from Kenya, that could mark a beginning of a stronger Bilateral trade & Investment activities in Textile Sector between India & Kenya.