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The 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be held in Shanghai, its permanent venue, from November 5 to 10, providing a platform for companies from around the world to display their products, promote their brands and find business partners.

The CIIE has been successfully held four times since 2018. A total of 145 foreign countries, regions and international organisations are participating, which underscores the CIIE’s appeal, and the important role it plays as an enabler of world trade.

Significantly, the CIIE is being held shortly after the 20th National People’s Congress (NPC) of the Communist Party of China, an event that sets the country’s socio-economic and political agenda for the next five years. Addressing the opening ceremony of the 5th CIIE via video, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated China’s commitment to promoting high-standard opening-up.

Xi stressed that China will work with all countries and all parties to share the opportunities in its vast market as well as share the opportunities from deepened international cooperation. On August 2 Kenya began exporting fresh avocados to China following the implementation of a signed protocol on phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh produce. This followed the official visit to Kenya in January by the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Exports of Kenyan avocados to China was suspended in 2019 due to quality concerns, specifically the prevalence of fruit flies. The resumption of trade in avocados followed a successful Pest Risk Analysis carried out by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service and the National Plant Protection Organisation of China.

Among other rigorous requirements, Kenya’s avocado exporters are supposed to follow Good Agricultural Practices, maintain proper sanitary conditions, and implement Integrated Pest Management programs which include pest monitoring, chemical and biological control and any other pest control operations.

Kenya targets 100,000 tons of avocado exports to China annually. According to the Kenya Economic Survey 2021, earnings from exports of horticulture produce in 2019 increased by 3.9 percent from KSh 144.6 billion to KSh 150.2 billion in 2020. With the introduction of new high potential markets such as China, the value of horticultural exports is expected to grow exponentially leading to a substantial economic impact.

China is a big market for Kenya not only for avocados but also for other fresh produce such as mangoes and bananas. At an estimated market value of $15.15 billion in 2022 according to Statista, avocado exports could transform the Kenyan economy. The Chinese market will stimulate avocado production in Kenya by both small- and large-scale farmers, boosting incomes at household levels as well as increasing investment in agro-processing.

According to Oxnard, the largest distributor of avocados in the world, avocado sales to China this year is expected to double compared to a similar period last year. China, one of the world’s largest importer of avocados, imported 32,100 tons of the fruit in 2017, up from 31.8 tons in 2011.

The journey of Kenya’s avocado exports to China started in 2018 when the latter hosted the first CIIE. The Kenyan high-level delegation was led by former president Uhuru Kenyatta and saw the signing of various key Memoranda of Understanding including the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) protocol.

This protocol is geared toward granting market access to thirteen prioritised agricultural products to be fast-tracked for export clearance. The products include avocados, French beans, legumes, flowers, vegetables and fruits, herbs, mangoes, peanuts, meat, hides and skin, bixa, macadamia nuts, gum Arabica, myrr, and Asian vegetables (chilli and karella).

Avocado is a foreign exchange earner. Avocado demand is increasing internationally.  Kenya is ranked as one of the largest avocado exporters in the world. Avocados have grown to represent 17 percent of Kenya’s total horticultural exports and seven percent of exported fruits. The crop is produced commercially in most parts of the country.

The industry has employed many Kenyans right from the farm to the processing plants. The number of avocado exporters is growing and this translates to employment opportunities. China is a big market for Kenyan produce. It will help in diversifying and expanding our fresh produce market niche in the world.