Over 30 Kenyan firms have improved their knowledge on service export planning following a capacity-building workshop organized by the East African Business Council (EABC), in collaboration with the East African Community (EAC), under the European Union (EU)–GIZ Leveraging Integration Frameworks for Trade in Services (LIFTED) Project.
The remarks of EABC Executive Director Mr. Ahmed Farah, highlighted that services are the fastest-growing sector contributing approximately 55%–70% of Kenya’s GDP in recent years. Travel services dominate exports at about 40%–50%, followed by transport services at 25%–30%. ICT and digital services contribute around 10%–11%, while financial services and other business and professional services each account for an estimated 5%–10%. The remarks were delivered by Mr. Adrian R. Njau, EABC Trade & Policy Advisor.
Mr. Vital Habinshuti representing the EAC Secretariat, stated that the workshop comes at a critical time when services trade is increasingly driving growth, innovation, and job creation across the region. He emphasized the importance of strengthening private sector capacity to take advantage of opportunities under regional and continental frameworks such as the EAC Common Market Protocol and the AfCFTA. He also noted that while progress has been made in liberalizing services, the full benefits will only be realized through an informed and empowered private sector capable of navigating market access requirements and regulatory environments.
The training focused on bridging the gap between policy frameworks and business practice by equipping participants with practical skills in export readiness, market entry strategies, and regulatory compliance. Participants explored approaches such as establishing commercial presence, forming strategic partnerships, and bidding for regional opportunities.
Overall, the workshop strengthened awareness, enhanced export readiness, and fostered regional networks among service providers, with strong participation from SMEs, including women- and youth-led enterprises. It also highlighted persistent challenges such as regulatory barriers and limited market intelligence, reinforcing the need for continued capacity building, policy advocacy, and post-training support to fully unlock the potential of services trade in the EAC.
