The Export Promotion Council (EPC) was established in 1992 to promote Kenya's exports. EPC's mandate is to assist exporters in overcoming bottlenecks to achieve higher export performance and foreign exchange earnings. There are currently twelve EPCs under the department of commerce dealing with commodities like chemicals, textiles, handlooms, apparel, silk, and others. EPCs are responsible for promoting and developing exports in their sectors through services like market analysis, trade information, export training, and organizing trade fairs and exhibitions. Membership in an EPC allows exporters to access benefits and helps them avail export opportunities.
2. WHAT IS EPC ?
Export promotion refers to that policy of the
government that offers encouragement
to the exporters with a view to enhance the
export of the country. In order to achieve this
objective they are given numerous incentives
and facilities.
3. BACKGROUND
The Export Promotion Council was established in 1992
under the Companies Act (Chapter 486) to promote
Kenya’s exports.
EPC’s mandate is the promotion of exports by assisting
exporters and producers of export goods to overcome
bottlenecks in order to achieve higher levels of export
performance and foreign exchange earnings thereby
enhancing economic growth.
Since then, the activities of the EPC have been geared
towards achieving this overall objective.
4. ExPORT PROmOTION
COUNCIlS
The basic objective of EPCs is to promote and develop
the exports of the country.
Each Council is responsible for the promotion of a
particular group of products, projects, and services.
The EPCs keep abreast of the trends and opportunities in
international markets for goods and services and assist
their members in taking advantage of such opportunities
in order to expand and diversify exports
5. PRESENT POSITION Of
EPC’S
Presently there are twelve EPCs under the administrative
control of the department of commerce.
These councils deal with various commodities like basic
chemicals and allied products ,cotton textiles ,
handlooms, apparels, silk , Marine product, carpets
,gems and sports goods ,tobacco, handicrafts ,computer
software and so on.
6. fUNCTION
To provide commercially useful information and
assistance to their members in developing and increasing
their exports
To offer professional advice to their members in areas
such as technology up gradation, quality and design
improvement, standards and specifications, product
development, innovation, etc.
To organize visits of delegations of its members abroad
to explore overseas market opportunities.
7. Cont.…
To organize participation in trade fairs, exhibitions and
buyer-seller meets in India and abroad.
To promote interaction between the exporting
community and the Government both at the Central and
State levels.
8. MeMbership
An exporter may or applicant need to register and
become a member of an Export Promotion Council.
On being admitted to membership, the applicant shall be
granted forthwith Registration-cum- Membership
Certificate (RCMC) of the EPC concerned, subject to such
terms and conditions as may be specified in this behalf
Holding the certificate can also help exporters in availing
benefits with respect to Customs and Excise.
9. Cont.…
This certificate can be obtained from the Federation of
Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) which has been
recognized as an Export Promotion Council (EPC) for the
purpose of RCMC issuance.
12. trade inforMation
Up-to-date, relevant and timely delivery of export trade
information and market intelligence to the exporting
business community;
Assessment of trade information needs;
Networking with information generating bodies and
business support organizations both local and
international to facilitate acquisition of information for
exporters;
13. Development of
exporting Skill
Training needs analysis of the export community in
Kenya (current and potential exporters) and identify
priority areas for which capacity building is needed;
Creation of a database of institutions and resource
persons in Kenya to conduct exporters’ training;
Exporters’ training modules and training materials
development in collaboration with identified training
institutions;
Train exporters’ trainers;
14. traDe policy
facilitation
Trade Policy Division offers the following services:
Internal and external trade policy environment review
and recommendation of policy review to enhance export
production and competitiveness,
Contribute to trade policy dialogue,
Input to government’s macro-economic, trade and other
sectorial policy formulations,
Sector specific surveys on export related activities,
15. cont.…
Trade flow analysis using the various market analysis
tools to identify export opportunities,
Exporters’ and investors’ Road map publication.
16. the market analySiS
toolS
Providing information on trade barriers in target markets
to assist Trade officials and policy-makers in
negotiations;
Assist trade support institutions identify and priorities
export sectors, target markets, and develop strategies
for export promotion;
Assist exporting firms access relevant information on
global, regional or individual country markets and
opportunities for market diversification for their
products.
17. export reaDineSS
aSSeSSment
The Export Fitness Checker takes a firm through five
dimensions of business management in its revision of
preparations to export.
These are :-
Strategy
Marketing
Production
Distribution
Finance Under Business
18. cont.…
The tool enables the company to identify possible gaps
as you prepare to enter a foreign market.
If the company has already started exporting or is in
other export development activities, the tool enables
them to discover some useful tips.
20. LiSt of export promotion
counciLS
Agricultural and processed Food Products Export
Development Authority (APEDA)
Apparel Export Promotion Council
Basic Chemicals , Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Export
Promotion Council
The Sports Goods Export Promotion Council
Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts
The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council
