Kenya on Wednesday launched its National E-Commerce Strategy in a bid to streamline the fast-growing sector amid a boom in the digital economy.
Eliud Owalo, the cabinet secretary for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, said during its launch in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that the strategy seeks to make the country a regional e-commerce hub, boosting both local and export trade for income generation and job creation.
“This strategy will enhance access to global markets for Kenyan goods and services, especially for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by leveraging on e-commerce,” he said.
Owalo noted that Kenya had a solid foundation for the development of e-commerce, which includes the provision of free Wi-Fi hotspots provided by the government and robust mobile money transfer services.
Shamika Sirimanne, the director of the Division on Technology and Logistics at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Nairobi, said the strategy is a call of action for Kenya to build a robust e-commerce sector to boost inclusivity in trade.
Rebecca Miano, the cabinet secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, said the implementation of the strategy would spur domestic and cross-border trade, enabling Kenyan producers to respond to the international market and thus help address the trade imbalance between the country and others.
The strategy includes initiatives for the development of digital skills among the Kenyan workforce and entrepreneurs as well as the improvement of internet connectivity and e-commerce-related infrastructure across the country.
Source: English News
