Kenyan enterprises are gearing up to participate in the 23rd MSME Exhibition and Trade Fair. This year’s event, themed “Connecting East Africa MSMEs to Enhance Intra EAC Trade,” will take place from 5th to 15th December 2023 at the Cercle Hyppique Grounds in Bujumbura, Burundi.

The exhibition is an annual event that brings together MSMEs from East Africa's partner nations to expand their reach into new markets, share technologies, and enhance regional integration. The recent inclusion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the EAC has significantly expanded the market size and GDP, making the EAC region competitive and easily accessible to the larger African Continental Free Trade Area.

At least 300 Kenyan MSMEs are expected to attend the fair, underlining the country's commitment to showcasing its offerings and creating export opportunities. Kenyan entrepreneurs will leverage this opportunity to share knowledge, forge new business links, launch innovative products and services, conduct test marketing, and enhance the Kenya brand.

Intra-regional trade within the EAC has been on an upward trajectory, with the value recorded at $10.17 billion (Sh1.5 trillion) as of September 2022. The number of locally made products to be sold during the trade fair has been increasing as well as the volume of value-added local products traded, resulting in growth of revenue through product and service sales.