Kenya has launched the Kenya-European Union Export Catalogue 2026, a national directory designed to connect local manufacturers, farmers and exporters with buyers and investors across the European market. The catalogue was developed through a partnership between the Government of Kenya, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and private sector stakeholders. It is intended to strengthen market access and promote industrial value addition under the Kenya-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
The directory covers key sectors of the economy, including horticulture, processed foods, textiles and apparel, leather products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and building materials. By providing information on Kenyan producers and their products, the catalogue is expected to make it easier for European buyers, distributors and investors to identify local suppliers and explore business partnerships.
Government targets wider export opportunities
Principal Secretary for Trade Regina Ombam said the catalogue would address information gaps that have historically limited access to international markets for Kenyan producers. In a speech delivered on her behalf by Trade Secretary Dr Michael Mandu, Ombam said facilitating market access remains a key government responsibility.
“The primary duty of the Government is market access facilitation. This catalogue bridges the critical link between local producers and European buyers, while removing historical challenges such as tariff escalation on value addition,” she said.
She noted that Kenya’s duty-free and quota-free access to the European Union market presents an opportunity for businesses to expand beyond traditional agricultural exports and increase the export of manufactured and value-added products. Representing Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr Abraham Korir Sing’Oei, Director of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Evans Maturu said Kenyan diplomatic missions were being positioned to play a more active role in promoting trade.
“Under our national Foreign Policy framework, all Kenyan diplomatic missions abroad, are being transformed into active economic and commercial hubs with specific quantitative targets,” Maturu said.
He added that the catalogue would give diplomats a practical tool to promote Kenyan products, address non-tariff barriers and translate trade agreements into actual export transactions.
EU trade agreement creates opportunities for manufacturers
The Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force on July 1, 2024, granting Kenyan products duty-free and quota-free access to a European market of more than 450 million consumers. The European Union’s economy is valued at approximately €18.8 trillion, according to the figures provided at the launch.
Bilateral trade between Kenya and the EU currently stands at approximately Sh494 billion, with an annual growth rate of 20 per cent. Kenyan exports to the European market reached Sh264 billion in 2025. Kenya Association of Manufacturers Chief Executive Officer Tobias Alando said the agreement could help local enterprises expand production, secure export orders and create employment opportunities.
“The agreement allows Kenya to export virtually everything apart from armaments, representing an unprecedented growth window for our manufacturing sector,” Alando said.
He observed that export growth could generate wider economic benefits through job creation, skills development, stronger supply chains and increased revenue for local producers.
Directory to connect businesses with European buyers
General Manager of Danish Industry East Africa Eric Thomas-Johnson said tariff incentives alone would not guarantee export success without direct connections between Kenyan suppliers and European importers.
“A zero-tariff Policy, carries little practical value if European buyers cannot locate local suppliers,” he said.
He noted that European importers often source products from individual companies rather than countries, making reliable supplier information essential for businesses seeking to enter international markets. The catalogue is therefore intended to provide a practical link between verified Kenyan suppliers and prospective European buyers.
Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) Director for Export Promotion Austin Machesso said the agency would incorporate the directory into upcoming international trade missions and market exposure programmes to increase the visibility of Kenyan products.
Skills and standards key to export growth
The export catalogue forms part of a broader 10-year EPA Implementation Strategy aimed at strengthening the capacity of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to compete in European markets. The strategy includes building business capacity to meet European technical standards, labelling requirements and sustainability regulations.
For Kenya’s manufacturing and TVET sectors, the expansion of export-oriented production could increase demand for skills in food processing, textile production, leather technology, quality assurance, packaging, logistics, industrial maintenance and compliance. As more local enterprises seek to access international markets, investment in relevant technical skills and production capacity will be important in helping businesses meet buyer requirements and sustain export growth.