ASEAN NAIROBI COMMITTEE CALLS ON KENYAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Marie Charlotte G. Tang (front row, fourth from left) with Amb. Sasirit Tangulrat of Thailand (front row, seventh from left), Amb. Mohamad Hery Saripudin of Indonesia (front row, rightmost), Chargé d’Affaires Fatin Zafirah Haris of Malaysia (front row, fifth from left), President Richard Ngatia of the KNCCI (front row, sixth from left), and other officials of KNCCI and ASEAN embassies (Photo credit: KNCCI).

NAIROBI, 06 September 2022 – Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Marie Charlotte G. Tang joined the heads of mission of Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia—the ASEAN Nairobi Committee (ANC)—in a courtesy call on the officials of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) on 05 September 2022 in Nairobi.

The heads of mission shared updates on the ASEAN Economic Community and the trade and investment opportunities available in the 10-member regional bloc, which is home to over 630 million people with a growing middle class and a big consumer base.

Ambassador Tang also shared updates on the Philippine economy, including the post-pandemic recovery priorities of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. She added that there are opportunities for growth in the trade in goods between the Philippines and Kenya and this can build on the Kenyans’ familiarity with the Philippines’ creative industry, by way of Filipino dramas or teleseryes.

Mr. Richard Ngatia, President of the KNCCI, gave a presentation on Kenya’s economic milestones and aspirations, and highlighted the benefits and incentives that the Kenyan government offers to foreign investors.  

At the end of the call, the ANC and the KNCCI agreed to establish a working relationship between their trade/economic attachés and technical officers to pursue concrete collaborative projects, including developing a platform for regular exchange of business information, as well as the possibility of exchange of visits and participation in trade exhibitions and business conferences between ASEAN and Kenya.  

The KNCCI was established in 1965 as a membership-based trade support institution to advance the commercial interests of the Kenyan business community, including through linkages with foreign embassies.

The ANC is composed of ASEAN Member States that have resident embassies in Nairobi and works to promote the visibility and awareness of ASEAN among Kenyan stakeholders and the general public. END

Ambassador Tang shares a light moment with KNCCI President Ngatia before the joint courtesy call (Photo credit: KNCCI).