Switch Africa Green (SAG) MSME’s Events Report

Kenya Agribusiness and Agroindustry Alliance (KAAA) is an implementing Partner of the program Switch Africa Green. The Alliance works with 16 MSME’s in this project who are in different value chains among them being:

i) Banana processing
ii) Dairy processing
iii) Potato processing
iv) Strawberry processing
v) Posho milling
vi) Agricultural equipment’s fabrication

The MSMEs under the Switch Africa Green are:
i) MAARA DAIRY COOP SOCIETY
ii) MUGUMANGO DAIRY FARMERS COOP SOCIETY
iii) NYANGORORA BANANA PROCESSORS
iv) SHAURI VISION WOMEN GROUP
v) MADARAKA POSHO MILL
vi) KODENY POSHO MILL
vii) MWINGI FARMERS COOPERATIVE
viii) CROWN MILLERS
ix) MAISHA BORA(MARRUT ENTERPRISES
x) HELITECH ORGANIZATION
xi) IMANI WELDERS
xii) AGRIBAM LTD
xiii) NYAGA SELF HELP GROUP
xiv) SWEET ‘N’ DRIED
xv) KIAMBU STRAW BERRY GROWERS AND PROCESSORS
xvi) PAMAT FOODS LTD

Among these MSMEs, the Alliance has been able to link them to different events that helped them network and also exposed them to possible local and international markets and financial linkages.

Below is a breakdown of the events the SAG MSMEs were involved in.

TICAD 6

Japan launched the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in 1993 in order to refocus international attention on the importance and urgency of African development issues as well as to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners.

TICAD is a Summit meeting on African development co-organized by: the Government of Japan, the United Nations Office of the Special Advisor on Africa (UN-OSAA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), African Union Commission (AUC) and the World Bank. Stakeholders include all African countries and development partners. The main objectives of TICAD are:
1. To promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and their partners; and
2. To mobilize support for African-owned development initiatives.
For the first time TICAD was held in Africa Nairobi Kenya on 26th – 28th 0f August 2016 at KICC.
During TICAD KAAA had a side event exhibition at Museum Hill. The topic was Healthier and Nutritious Food for Consumers:

Learning from Japanese and African Food Cultures.
During this side event we had two MSMEs from SAG project that is Pamat Foods and Kiambu Strawberry Growers and processors who were able to display their products along the Japanese MSMEs and 1 more MSME who was able to attend the forum that is HELITECH Organization.

From this event organized by Japanese MAFF our SMEs were able to learn more from the Japan food production companies and expertise and their nutritious aspect as well as interact from the same and with other interested Japanese investors.

UNCTAD 14
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is a subsidiary organ of the United Nations General Assembly, established in 1964 to promote trade, investment, and development in developing countries. Headquartered in Geneva, UNCTAD has 194 member States as well as numerous intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other observers.
The quadrennial ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of UNCTAD. It is widely attended by stakeholders in development including Heads of State and Government, Ministers and representatives of governments, international institutions, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and the private sector.
It sets UNCTAD’s mandate and work priorities and, thanks to its design of formal and informal sessions, facilitates dialogue on the world’s key and emerging issues affecting the global economy, discusses policy options and formulates global policy responses.
The Conference includes high-level round tables on key issues in the international economic debate. Informal thematic side events are also held with the aim to promote interactive discussions on development issues.
The World Investment Forum and a Commodities Forum, which are an integral part of the Conference, bring together thousands of business and government representatives to advance developing countries’ participation in these sectors.

The event was held in Nairobi on 17th – 22nd July 2016 at KICC

During UNCTAD 14 KAAA had two tent for the 5 days that the event lasted and we hosted two MSMEs that is Pamat Foods and HELITCH Organization to display their products, sell and even make local and international market and financial linkages and also get the exposure.

We also had two major side events held at intercontinental hotel;
i) Dinner side meeting held on 19th of July whereby the theme was Agriculture chapter of the coalition for transformation and
ii) A breakfast side event held at the same venue in conjunction with AGRA whereby the topic was CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRIBUSINESS IN EASTERN AFRICA.

At both events, KAAA was able to accommodate more MSMEs including Kiambu Strawberry growers and processors and Shauri vision self-help group. Great discussion was held during this side events that were attended by other relevant stakeholders and also government officials and ministries representatives and deliberations and solutions were reached and a follow up was set to happen on the same.

 

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO)
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business.

The WTO’s 10th Ministerial Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 15 to 19 December 2015. … The Conference was chaired by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Amina Mohamed.
During WTO KAAA was able to host Maish Bora one of our SAG MSME at our tent where they as well were able to do sales and interact with the rest of the business community and delegates from across the world.

6TH ROUNDTABLE

During the private sector presidential roundtable held on 26th May 2016 we were able to have two of our SAG MSMEs presents and participate in this great policy making event especially for the business community in Kenya. Pamat Food ad Kiambu strawberry growers and processors were the two MSMEs from SAG project that were able to participate in this event

TURKEY – KENYA BUSINESS FORUM

The President of the Federal Republic of Turkey H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his business delegation visited Kenya on 2nd June 2016 and KAAA had a chance of involving two MSMEs during the Turkey – Kenya business forum that was held at Villa Rosa Kempinski. Pamat foods, Kiambu strawberry growers and processors and Helitech Organization were present to interact and share business ideas with the turkey investors and business community.

INDIA-KENYA BUSINESS FORUM
During the Indian Prime Minister Modi visit to Knya with his business delegation and investors on 11th July 2016 KAAA was able to acquire one slot for SAG MSME, Shauri Vision self-help group who participated at the India – Kenya business forum held at Villa Rosa Kempinski.

SEED AFRICA SYMPOSIUM
This was held on 28TH – 29TH September 2016 at Safari Park hotel and KAAA was able to have 1 SAG MSME attend the event that brought together over 500 enterprises, researchers, practitioners and investors to discuss on how to utilize the replication of business models for successful contribution on green growth and sustainable development in Africa. Kiambu strawberry growers and processors were the MSME that attended.