Stanbic Bank Kenya is helping Kenyan exporters access the 2026 China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai through Standard Bank Group’s Africa–China trade platform.
Kenyan firms are part of a delegation of 20 African enterprises drawn from seven countries – South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda – and will showcase agricultural and value-added agri-processing products such as coffee, cocoa, tea, wine, avocados, grains, cashews and sesame.
The expo offers a venue for participants to present their goods directly to Chinese buyers, distributors, investors and potential commercial partners and to gain insight into market requirements.
Over nine years, Standard Bank Group has supported more than 242 African businesses at CIIE, including a Ugandan coffee exporter that secured three orders worth more than US$650,000 in 2023, a South African rooibos exporter that generated bulk sales exceeding R1 million, and a Mozambican macadamia exporter that shipped six containers valued at more than US$350,000 in 2024.
Early shipments from Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Nigeria are now cleared under a new zero-tariff framework, while enhanced Renminbi settlement capabilities are reducing transaction friction across the Africa–China corridor.
“For nine years, CIIE has provided a powerful platform for African businesses to showcase their products, capabilities and innovation to one of the world’s largest and most dynamic markets,” said Luthando Vuba, Head of International Trade at Business and Commercial Banking, Standard Bank Group. “Our role is to help remove trade barriers, facilitate strategic connections and create opportunities that support sustainable business growth.”
Through the Africa–China Trade Solutions (ACTS) platform, clients can obtain trade finance, foreign-exchange solutions, buyer introductions, market advisory services and regulatory support.
The Group’s partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) strengthens its ability to facilitate trade, and since its first participation the bank has facilitated more than 500 buyer engagements for exporters from 12 African markets.
Stanbic Bank Kenya aims to enable local businesses to look beyond traditional markets and use the trade relationships, financial solutions and market insight provided to pursue export growth.
