The manufacturing sector will set up an e-commerce platform to promote exports through increased sale locations.

Kenya Association of Manufactures chief executive Phyllis Wakiaga has said the digital platform will help showcase locally manufactured products to the rest of the world, running like established global online marketplaces such as Alibaba in China and Amazon.

The platform will also help Kenyan products expand their reach in the East African market and counter the existing intra-trade barriers.

“There’s an opportunity to grow exports to EAC even though the amount of trade has been declining over the years. As we work on export competitiveness, we will work on low cost-effective products to ensure growth of the exports,” Wakiaga said.

She spoke during the Changamka Shopping Festival at Kasarani Stadium on Friday where local firms were able to showcase their products and sell them at discounted prices.

The need to shift online has been driven by increased online shopping in the country due to ease in payments, and the African region. A report by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development released in 2018 showed that Kenyans shopping through the internet hit the 2.61 million mark in 2017 compared to 1.2 million in 2014.

South Africa online shoppers hit 2.93 million, while Nigeria led in the online purchase space with more than four million online buyers.

Export Promotion Council chief executive Peter Biwott said the move will also engage the diaspora community business council to increase promotion and ensure Kenyan companies are present in global markets.

“The advantages of establishing locations in external markets have been evident with local financial institutions such as KCB Group. With the brand Kenya mark, the companies will be able to fix our targets in exports in the country,” Biwott said.

EPC will also work with Foreign Affairs and US trade agency, African Growth and Opportunity Act.