Make in India campaign launched

India has reiterated its commitment to promoting bi-lateral trade and investment as Kenya’s largest trading partner in Asia. India exported goods worth $252 million in the year 2013-14 and imported goods worth 128 USD million with Kenya.

Speaking during the Indo Expo where the ‘Make in India’ campaign was launched, India Ministry of Commerce representative Mr. Walter D’Souza said that India is seeking investors and partners who consider India as their global manufacturing hub.

“India offers Kenyan businessmen with high production technology standards that will provide them with excellent quality products and services at very competitive prices,” said Mr. D’Souza.

The 'Make in India' campaign aims at making India a global manufacturing hub.

“We hope that through this programme, we will be able to develop and market India to global investors including Kenyans to see India as an alternative manufacturing hub,” added Mr. D’Souza.

The launch will also provide Indian investor with opportunity to seek opportunities within Kenya as an investment destination in areas like communications, petroleum refining, floriculture and medical diagnostics.

In the last fiscal year, India’s exports to Kenya has included petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, electrical machinery, steel products, hand and machine tools, yarn, vehicles and paper while India’s import from Kenya include soda ash, leather, synthetic fibers, chemicals, vegetables, coffee, wool, cereals and metal scrap.

Today, Indian investments in Kenya are worth $1.5 billion and are expected to double in another five years. The ‘Make in India’ policy of the new Indian government is also expected to help in creating world class products and services with high cost efficiency.