The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Kenya and the European Union has officially entered into force, marking a significant milestone in the EU-Kenya Strategic Partnership.
This agreement grants Kenya duty-free and quota-free access to the EU’s $18 trillion market, aiming to enhance bilateral trade, increase investment flows, and foster sustainable economic relations.
The EPA, described as one of the most ambitious agreements between the EU and an African country, focuses on promoting economic sustainability, job creation, and economic growth. It includes comprehensive provisions on trade, economic and development cooperation, and addresses labor issues, gender equality, environmental conservation, and climate change.
Kenya, recognized as Eastern Africa’s leading economic hub, stands to benefit from the expanded economic opportunities provided by the EPA. In 2023, trade between the EU and Kenya surpassed €3.5 billion, a 16% increase from 2018.
The agreement is expected to unlock new opportunities for Kenyan businesses and exporters, particularly in high-value manufactured products, while also attracting EU investment due to enhanced legal certainty and stability.
The EPA was concluded in June 2023 and signed on December 18, 2023, following extensive negotiations led by Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry Rebecca Miano and Principal Secretary for the State Department of Trade Alfred K’Ombudo.
The agreement aligns with Kenya’s 2016 Trade Policy and the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda, aiming to integrate Kenyan value chains with global ones and advance the country’s economic development goals.
