NAIROBI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will host a China trade forum next month to boost Sino-Kenya Trade, organizers said on Monday.
International Events Director at Middle East International Events (MIE) Michelle Meyrick told a media briefing in Nairobi that the Fourth Edition of the China Trade Week Kenya will run from June 13 to 15 for Phase One and from June 18 to 20 for Phase Two.
The China Trade Week is a business-to-business matching trade show featuring over 500 Chinese manufacturing companies, looking to connect with the local and regional sourcing, buying and purchasing professionals, Meyrick said.
"The event will help to expand Sino-Kenya trade by proving an opportunity for the local business community to develop direct trading links with high-end Chinese product manufacturers," she said.
This will be the first time that the China Trade Week is split into two phases. It will bring together exhibitors in building materials, lighting, water and environmental, furniture, textile, consumer goods, automobile and auto parts, electrical and agriculture sectors.
The trade forum has been instrumental in increasing commercial and investment ties between the two countries, she said.
The first China Trade Week in Africa was held in Kenya in 2015. Since then, Ghana, South Africa and Ethiopia have also hosted similar events.
In the last decade, China has become Kenya's largest source of foreign direct investment and is the biggest exporter to Kenya.
Meyrick said that the China Trade Week was the first China-focused event to be hosted in the east Africa region.
"It successfully provided exhibitors, visitors and various stakeholders with the opportunity to meet together to develop trade relations and potentially negotiate commercial cooperation with Chinese manufacturers," she said.