Kenya's first national export strategy
"The first National Export Strategy … has been prepared by the
Ministry of Trade and Industry in close collaboration with the
private sector in Kenya and ITC.
"The first phase of this strategy covers ten sectors and six
cross-cutting issues. The limitation in scope of coverage … is in
consideration of the resources available for effective
implementation …
"[The strategy] will be implemented in the period 2003-2005. The
Government of Kenya is committed to ensuring full implementation …
under the auspices of the Consultative Mechanism incorporated in
the strategy. I therefore look forward to mutual cooperation
between all the agencies involved in implementation …"
Hon. Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, Minister for Trade and Industry,
Nairobi, November 2003.Adding value to exports
What do silk, spices, gourmet coffee, medicinal plants and organic
products have in common? All offer high value-added export
opportunities to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in
developing countries.
In 2003, ITC provided advice on farming practices, processing and
storage techniques and export marketing of organic spices, herbs,
essential oils and honey (in Kenya, Malawi, the United Republic of
Tanzania and Zambia).
Physical analysis, arranged by ITC specialists, confirmed that
bird's-eye chillies from Burundi meet the highest quality standards
in Europe and the United States, allowing for related marketing
plans.
ITC provided product development support to a small weaver
community in Cambodia and to the Cambodian Silk Forum, a
private-sector association representing over 400 silk
producers.
ITC assessed market potential and developed business plans for
producers of medicinal herbs, gums and plant extracts from the
Amazon region.
The ITC-initiated "Cup of Excellence" Internet auction of Brazilian
gourmet coffees yielded prices ten times that of the world
market.
Flower exports reduce poverty in China
"The ITC project helped the growers in Yunnan Province improve
their skills and know-how. Overall production and quality have
increased considerably. When the project started in 1999, the
export value of cut flowers amounted to little over US$ 5 million.
Their export value reached some US$ 18 million in 2002, the target
originally set for 2010, and it is estimated that the value will
exceed US$ 20 million this year. In the meantime, the incomes of
flower enterprises and household growers are increasingly stable …
This is an eminent example of what a true technical cooperation
partnership can achieve."
Shi Tianjun, President, Yunnan Flower Association.New benchmarking tool to help textile firms
"When the entire textile industry in the country gears up for the
post-quota regime by 2005, lacunae in benchmarking continue to
bother … small and medium-sized enterprises with no details of
comparison with competitors available.
"In this gloomy scenario, a software-based benchmarking tool, named
The Fit, developed by ITC and launched nationwide through its
national partner, Textiles Committee, looks to be a fitting
solution as it helps the SMEs to identify their strengths and
weaknesses vis-à-vis the competitors and prioritize areas of action
to improve their competitiveness."
The New Indian Express, Coimbatore, 25 September 2003.
The full Annual Report 2003 is available online at http://www.intracen.org/docman/JAG_4903.pdf