NAIROBI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Exports from Kenya to other African countries rose 23.3 percent in the first quarter as the government enhanced bilateral ties, said the Central Bank of Kenya in a new report released Wednesday.

The exports surged to 98.8 billion Kenyan shillings (about 713 million U.S. dollars) at the end of March, an increase from 578 million dollars in a similar period in 2022, the central bank said.

Most of the exports from Kenya during the period were shipped to Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda as well as Egypt, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) emerging as the other leading destination of goods from the East African nation.

Kenya exported goods worth 223 million dollars to Uganda, to Tanzania 101 million dollars, and to Rwanda 67 million dollars. To Egypt, Kenya shipped goods worth 51 million dollars while to the DRC 39 million dollars, according to the bank.

Other top destinations of exports were South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Somalia.

Kenya in the last months held talks with various countries to strengthen bilateral ties, including South Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, and Tanzania.

Kenya's exports to African nations are mainly tea, coffee, oil (re-exports), animal, and vegetable fats and oils, and manufactured goods.

On Tuesday, President William Ruto announced plans to remove visa requirements for African nationals traveling to Kenya for business to further boost its trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Kenya's exports to the continent stood at 2.6 billion dollars in 2022, up from 2.2 billion dollars in 2021, according to the apex bank. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)