Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Kenyan Deputy President Kithure Kindiki attended a send-off ceremony in Nairobi on Monday for the inaugural zero-tariff consignment of Kenyan goods destined for China.
The train will travel nearly 500 kilometers to the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, where the goods will be shipped to China.
The shipment is among the first to benefit from China's zero-tariff policy, which takes effect on May 1, coinciding with the goods' arrival. Announced in February, the policy grants duty-free access to exports from 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China.
The ceremony coincided with the China-Kenya Business Forum, demonstrating how the new policy is being paired with broader efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and investment.
Also on Monday, the China-Kenya Business Forum was held on in Nairobi, bringing together more than 350 representatives from the government and business sectors of both countries to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral trade and investment.
The forum was jointly organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency.
Deputy President Kindiki, CCPIT Chairman Ren Hongbin and Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui delivered addresses, while representatives from Chinese and Kenyan businesses also shared their insights.
"The relationship has grown into one of Kenya's most important economic partnerships, spanning trade, infrastructure development, manufacturing cooperation, technology exchange, and people-to-people engagements," said Kindiki.
Sun Weiyong, vice president of the China International Exhibition Center Group Corporation (CIEC), encouraged Kenyan businesses to leverage duty-free access to expand into the Chinese market.
"We are looking forward to seeing more Kenyan enterprises engage more actively with the CIEC platform to develop the huge potential of further cooperation between Kenya and China," said Sun.
Kenyan exporters expressed optimism about future cooperation between the two countries.
"Now, let us be strategic through deeper collaboration, through the exchange of expertise, investment, and innovation between Kenya and China. We are building long-term partnerships grounded in shared prosperity," said Hasit Tiku Shah, managing director of Sunripe Ltd.
The shipment and forum highlight China’s broader push to deepen trade ties with African partners under the zero-tariff policy, while positioning Kenya as a key gateway for African exports to the Chinese market.
Chinese vice president, Kenyan deputy president see off inaugural zero‑tariff consignment to China
