Browsing: Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM)

Kenya has emerged third in East Africa in the Competitive Industrial Performance (CIP) Index Report, 2020 with position 115.

The country follows Tanzania which is position 123 and Uganda at position 128.

This rank puts the country lower than other competitor African countries but high compared to its East African counterparts. Egypt and South Africa rank at position 64 and 52 respectively.

The Report benchmarks the ability of countries to produce and export manufactured goods competitively. It provides a yardstick against which Kenya can compare its manufacturing competitiveness on a global level.

It further indicates that China, which is ranked second in the CIP Index report, is very strong in manufacturing due to the use of high technology which is applied by 30.6% of its manufacturers whereas only 9.3% are resource-based manufacturers.

Comparatively, Kenya’s manufacturing sector export structure is dependent on resource-based manufacturers at 42.9% with high tech manufactures only …

Manufacturers have cited reducing costs and maintaining jobs as top priorities during the global pandemic.

This is according to findings of a KAM, KPMG report on the impact of The pandemic on manufacturers in Kenya.

Nations have put in place stringent measures to curb the spread of the pandemic which include lockdown regulations that have crippled business operations.

Despite fears of the impact of the pandemic on local industry, 81 per cent of manufacturers say they are not likely to close down as a result of the impact of the pandemic. However the report noted that this number reduces to 76 per cent for manufacturing SMEs.

To help businesses navigate the pandemic, the survey proposes clearing outstanding VAT refunds and pending bills, re-evaluating tax reliefs, providing moratorium on changes in the tax regime, establishing an emergency rescue fund, re-evaluating regulatory overreach, and developing a comprehensive rebound strategy among others.

Speaking …

Lack of prioritization and ineffective implementation of policies have been cited for gravely impacting Kenya’s manufacturing sector.

This came up during the high- level Manufacturer’s economic forum, organized by Kenya Association of Manufacturers, in Nairobi.

According to a statement from the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) , the forum which consisted of representatives from Academia, Government, Economic Think-Tanks and Industrialists, cited Kenya’s declining competitiveness in the region as a consequence of little or no implementation of existing policies, as well as, a consistent disruption of well-intentioned development programmes by each election cycle.

According to the KAM Chair Mr Sachen Gudka, Kenya’s manufacturing sector’s contribution to the GDP has averaged 10 per cent and has been on a declining trend, contributing 8.4 per cent to the GDP in 2017 and 7.7 per cent in 2018.

Manufacturing-led growth attributed to good policy implementation.

“Industrialised countries have experienced an average GDP growth …

The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has partnered with e-commerce players in Kenya to boost access of manufacturing SMEs to local and international markets through e-commerce.

This is in the wake of low uptake of e-commerce in Kenya despite its immense benefits.

The partnership, therefore, seeks to promote the uptake of e-commerce by SMEs to enable them to gain access to global markets and new international customers and reinventing their business models to align with changing technologies.

Speaking at the inaugural event, KAM Board Member and SME Hub Chair, Ms Ciiru Waithaka noted that the increased attention on SME growth, both at a national and global scale, points to a reckoning that the future of business hinges on their success.

“The unique and dynamic nature of SMEs in the manufacturing sector calls for an adaptive approach in developing policies and interventions that most importantly centres their needs and proposed solutions …

Over 50 per cent of Kenyan manufacturers feel the sector is struggling to compete with developed countries with equal pressure coming from regional states, a study has revealed.

This is in the wake of continued high costs of doing business in the country with the local market further being infiltrated by cheap imports mainly from China.

READ:What is hurting manufacturing in Kenya

The study has been unveiled by SYSPRO, a global provider of industry-built Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for manufacturers and distributors, together with Strathmore University.

External factors

In the findings, energy leads as the top factor affecting businesses with a 54 per cent prevalence followed solely by the country’s political climate which accounts for 50 per cent of effect to investments.

The third most toxic factor affecting businesses is taxes with 43 per cent prevalence. Others are cheap imports (40%), exchange rates and raw materials each at …

The informal sector in Kenya employs approximately 14.9 million Kenyans and contributes an estimated 28 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product…

Global oil prices which have been on an upward trend since January are putting pressure on Kenya’s economy, as the country’s population continues to dig deeper into their pockets to meet the cost of living.

This is in the wake of a rising inflation in Kenya which rose to 6.58 per cent in April from 4.35 per cent in March, the highest increase in the cost of living in 19 months, mainly driven by high food prices.

Crude oil prices have been on the rise since January after edging up from USD59.50 per barrel in December. In January, a barrel traded at USD60.95.This went up to USD66.35 in February, USD 68.60(March) and USD73.05 in April.

Brent, which is a benchmark crude, is currently trading at USD71.90, with overall oil prices projected to surge.

Kenya which prices its oil products on the previous month’s market prices (due to the import period), …

33% of manufacturers in the country plan to reduce the number of full time employees

Only 48 per cent of manufacturers in Kenya have expressed optimism that the sector would grow this year, a latest survey has revealed, as investments in the country continue to face headwinds.

According to the Q1 ‘Manufacturing Barometer’ by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM),  the biggest worry by industry players over the next six months (61 per cent) is the high cost of  raw materials, which is making their products uncompetitive both locally, regional and in the  international markets.

About 57 per cent are worried about pressure from increased wages, 54 per cent are concerned over decreasing profitability while 48 per cent fear that taxation policies in the country will affect their businesses.

Oil and energy prices which have remained high worries 43 per cent of the surveyed manufacturers in the country, the study …

Over 50 stakeholders in the steel sector have called upon the government to zero rate fees in a bid to boost the industry.

The stakeholders who converged for the first ever International Steel Forum in Kenya said that local steel industry is heavily dependent on imported raw materials.

The forum saw the stakeholders sourced from all over the world meet and focus on providing partnership opportunities to boost the sector’s competitiveness and developing frameworks of collaboration to better shape the future of the industry.

Speaking at the event, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) Chair Mr Sachen Gudka noted that the local Steel sector has grown over the years, adding that the establishment of stronger partnerships with global investors, would be vital to attain the desired growth in the sector and the economy.

“The future of the sector looks at the development of Smart Infrastructure. Through data and employment of …