Local banks urged to develop tailor-made financial products

Insufficient financial linkages is a constrain to the deepening of trade between Kenyan traders and their Chinese counterparts.

Local commercial banks are now being urged to develop tailor-made financial products that will ensure small and medium enterprises access affordable credit to assist in accessing the lucrative Chinese market.

Trade volume between Kenya and China is currently estimated to be worth over 400 billion shillings and is expected to grow after President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping  signed a trade agreement that will see Kenya horticulture farmers access the Chinese markets.

To further facilitate trade between the two countries Kenyan financial institutions have been urged to put up Kenyan-Chinese trade offices that will help traders access financial services easily.

Banks have also been urged to consider assisting Kenyan SMEs access cheap loans as capital to venture into the big Chinese market.

Local traders have similarly been advised to form partnerships with their Chinese counterparts to import quality goods from China.

The investors were speaking during the official launch of the annual china trade week that is set to commence on 5 -12 June.