Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has launched the 5th edition of the Changamka Shopping Festival. The festival seeks to showcase high-quality locally manufactured products, in a bid to celebrate the sector's ingenuity and promote the Buy Kenya Build Kenya initiative.
The event is set to take place from 1st - 5th November at KICC in Nairobi and 1st - 4th December at Aga Khan Hall in Kisumu. Both editions shall feature exhibitors, drawn from various manufacturing sectors, including Food and Beverage; Textiles and Apparel; Metal and Allied; Energy; Plastic; Fresh Produce; Chemical and Allied; Automotive; Paper and Paperboard and Leather and Footwear.
Currently, manufacturing contributes approximately 7.2 percent to the country's GDP. Initiatives such as the Changamka Shopping Festival, geared towards increasing the uptake of locally manufactured goods, is set to increase it to 15 percent.
Speaking during the event, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development Ms Betty Maina reiterated Government's commitment to continue prioritizing manufacturing as a key sector for sustainable economic growth and job creation. She added that there is a need to shorten supply chains and increase the intensity of local manufacturing, to meet both local and international market demands.
"A liberalized economy supports and encourages a significant level of domestic consumption to support local value chains and generates employment. The Buy Kenya Build Kenya initiative will ensure sustainable consumption of locally manufactured goods and will go a long way in creating public confidence in locally manufactured goods and services" explained Ms Betty.
KAM Chairman and Capwell Industries CEO, Mr Rajan Shah called for support to the sector, to enhance market access.
"For the manufacturing sector to grow, access to local, regional, and international markets is crucial. The Changamka Festival is part of the Association's initiatives to drive the country's economic growth and increase the consumption of locally manufactured goods. The Shopping aims to dismantle the long-held belief that local goods are not of high quality and to reduce over-reliance on imports," noted Mr Shah.
Changamka Shopping Festival has come at a time when Kenyans are grappling with the high cost of living. With over 100 exhibitors in Nairobi and Kisumu, it shall provide Kenyans with a platform to purchase goods at factory and at highly discounted rates.
The festival is sponsored by Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), Capwell Industries and Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA).
Kenya Association of Manufacturers launched the Summit and Expo in 2016 to celebrate and create awareness on the diverse, high-quality and unique products that local industries produce.
