KAM launches 5th edition of Changamka shopping festival

By Phyllis MUCHOKI

The 5th edition of the Changamka Shopping Festival by Kenya Association of Manufacturers is set to kick off tomorrow at KICC.

The festival, which will run from 1st November to 5th November, brings together local manufacturers. It also seeks to showcase high-quality locally manufactured products, in a bid to celebrate the sector’s ingenuity and promote the Buy Kenya Build Kenya initiative.

The Shopping Festival shall be officially opened by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Moses Kuria.

The Association’s Chairman Rajan Shah said Kenya is endowed with diverse resources including human capital, raw materials, renewable energy sources, among others, that have the potential to transform the country towards shared prosperity.

“Local industry has continued to innovate every day, to provide Kenyans and the global market with high quality products. It has achieved this by integrating these resources in their day-to-day operations”, explained Mr. Shah.

Shah called on manufacturers to remain committed to driving holistic socio-economic transformation by building, creating, adding value, and taking pride in what they do. He challenged the national and county to consume and promote high-quality, locally-made products that meet international standards.

The festival offers manufacturers an opportunity to showcase the quality and diversity of locally manufactured goods made for local, regional, and international markets, besides being able to meet their customers and sell their goods at discounted prices.

Currently, manufacturing contributes approximately 7.2 percent to the country’s GDP. Initiatives such as the Changamka Shopping Festival, are part of the Association’s initiatives to drive the country’s economic growth and increase the consumption of locally manufactured goods. The Shopping aims to dismantle the long-held belief that local goods are not of high quality and to reduce over-reliance on imports.

The 5-day event which kicks off tomorrow in Nairobi. The Association shall also host the festival in Kisumu on 1st – 4th December at Aga Khan Hall. It shall feature exhibitors, drawn from various manufacturing sectors, including Food and Beverage; Textiles and Apparel; Metal and Allied; Energy; Plastic; Fresh Produce; Chemical and Allied; Automotive; Paper and Paperboard and Leather and Footwear. The festival is sponsored by NCBA as the platinum sponsor as well as Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) and Capwell Industries.