Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea has announced that a customs duty exemption on Egyptian exports to Kenya will continue for a period of a year starting from July.
Gamea said that this exemption comes as part of the comprehensive customs exemption granted by the East African Community (EAC), including Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, to COMESA member states.
The minister said that the Egyptian Commercial Service (ECS) in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, had received an official letter from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). The letter stated that Kenya had obtained the EAC’s approval to extend customs exemptions granted to COMESA member states for a one year period.
For his part, ECS Head Ahmed Maghawry said that this procedure will boost Egyptian exports to the Kenyan market. This comes particularly as it is one of the most important receiving markets for Egyptian exports among COMESA countries and the East African region.
The move also sends a message of reassurance to Egyptian exporters dealing with the Kenyan market.
Maghawry added that the total Egyptian exports to the Kenyan market in 2020 amounted to about $448.5m, an increase of 5.3% over 2019.
He noted that the most important Egyptian export items to Kenya include sugar, detergents, cement, iron and steel, machinery, equipment, and electrical appliances.
