Nairobi, November 30th , 2022: Kenya is among countries participating in the 2022 China-Africa Fruit Promotion Conference taking place in Shanghai, China. The conference brings together Fruits farmers from all over the world to network, share ideas, Innovation and best practices.

During the 8th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), China and Africa jointly prepared the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035. In the first three years of the Vision, China vowed to closely work with African nations to implement nine programs poverty reduction and agriculture, healthcare, investment, trade promotion, green development, digital innovation, peace and security, people to people exchange and capacity building.  

The trade promotion program allows China to open “green lanes” for African agricultural exports to China while also speeding up the inspection and quarantine procedures on African agricultural product and to further increase the zero tariff products from Africa. China targets USD 300 billion worth of imports from Africa by 2025.

Kenya was granted market access to export the frozen avocados to China, making Kenya the first African nation to export frozen avocados to China. Subsequently, after a successful Pest Risk Analysis on Kenya’s avocados, Kenya is now among the largest African producer and exporter of Avocados to China.

The Chinese market a very important destination for Kenya’s avocados. Kenya’s exports of avocado to China hit Sh7 billion in between the months of August and October further cementing Kenya as a top fruit exporter to the populous Chinese market.

Kenya has shipped over 1.7 million kilogrammes of avocado since Chinese authorities allowed the export of fresh produce to the Asian giant. The export of fresh Avocado produce to China is expected to spur the growth of the avocado sub-sector in Kenya while also greatly contributing to the country’s economy.

Speaking during the conference, the Agency’s CEO Dr. Wilfred Marube said,  “Since China’s economy is moving towards consumption, and Kenya’s inherent goal of diversification beyond the traditional exports, emphasis should also be laid on Trade in Services. Kenyan and African businesses in general, should seize the opportunity to export on-demand services to China including financial, tourism, especially tourism, business process outsourcing (BPO), education, ICT, business services,”.

China imported fruits worth USD 1.07 billion from the world and USD 564 million from Africa, depicting a 52% market share of the African fruits export to China. This shows that there is great opportunity to increase the market share of Kenyan fruit’s exports to China.