US-Kenya Trade Initiative to benefit Kenyan SMEs aiming to expand their global market

The US-Kenya SME Trade Initiative Program will benefit Kenyan small and micro enterprises (SMEs) wanting to expand internationally or export more to the US market.

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) co-established this program with the Corporate Council on Africa, which targets 25 SMEs and provides a unique platform to facilitate US-Kenyan SME partnership while also assisting women and youth-run enterprises.

“The U.S.-Kenya SME Trade Initiative Program provides a unique platform to facilitate U.S. and Kenyan SME partnerships, supporting women and youth-run Kenyan entrepreneurs as well as U.S. women, minority, and diaspora owned businesses.” KEPSA

Eligibility for the program 

To be eligible for this program, a company must have been in business for at least one year, have fewer than one hundred employees, be registered in Kenya, and be operating in any of the country’s 47 counties.

Other requirements include being ready to export or having already exported and wishing to expand.

The application is, however, only open to members of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance. 

The initiative aims to increase trade and investment between American and Kenyan SMEs through partnerships, information exchange, training, logistics, and funding. 

Kenyan SMEs will receive background and training on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) market potential, as well as sector-specific market knowledge, as part of the program.