Forge global pacts, CS Amina Mohamed urges enterprises

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohamed has urged local enterprises to forge strategic partnerships with global companies to access global value chains.  She observed that it is through partnerships that Kenyan products have been able to find their way into leading global stores.

Making her contribution during a panel discussion themed: 'Financing for Impact: Investing in sustainable fashion value chain, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Monday, the CS attributed the growing success of Kenya's fashion industry to collaboration with global fashion outlets and personalities.

"Additionally, partnerships have availed the much needed capacity building through training and technology transfer," she said.

The CS cited the collaboration between Kenyan artisans with Vivienne Westwood, an English fashion designer and businesswoman as an example of a successful partnership that has enabled Kenyan enterprises to connect to the global value chain.

Amina said the Government has put in place the necessary framework for partnerships and mergers, adding that Kenya was working with the African Cotton and Textile Industries Federation on trade development along the Cotton, Textile and Apparel value chain through funding from the European Union's Centre for Enterprise Development.