Government Seeks Trade Balance between Kenya and Japan

The government is seeking to have appropriate policies put in place to aid the balancing of trade between Kenya and Japan. The government is targeting an increase in exports to Japan to achieve balance.

Kenya managed to export to Japan goods worth KSh6.34 billion in 2016 alone while importing goods worth KSh 80.7 billion from Japan this according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade

Kenya made exports worth $50.07 million to Japan in 2018 while having imports total to $985.51 million from Japan

To help balance the trade the government intends to:

• Have more agricultural produce included in its exports to Japan inclusive of but not limited to Passion Fruits and Avocados.
• Have more foreign investors engaged in special projects
• Have procedures related to customs and Pre-Export Verification Conformity (PVoC) improved
• Have goods transported to and from the port via Standard Gauge Railway
• Have work permit procedures improved

In the form of technical assistance, grant aid and concessional loans, Kenya is the leading recipient of Japanese development assistance in sub-Saharan Africa