Seven Tunisian companies specializing in medical equipment and supplies, food supplements, paramedical products, and hospital engineering took part in a business mission to Kenya, organized by the Export Promotion Center (CEPEX) and the Tunisian Embassy in Nairobi from May 14 to 16.
According to CEPEX, the mission aimed to increase exports from the health sector to East Africa. It enabled the participating companies to hold strategic meetings with key public institutions in the Kenyan health sector, including the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), the Mission for Essential Medicines and Supplies (MEDS), and the Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade).
The Tunisian companies also visited public and private hospitals, specialist clinics, and Kenyan distributors.
They also participated in the 25th MEDEXPO trade fair, which was held in Nairobi from May 14 to 16. MEDEXPO is one of the largest events dedicated to the medical and pharmaceutical industries in East Africa.
This year, it attracted 139 exhibitors from 30 countries, including India, Iran, Turkey and Indonesia. The first day of the show attracted nearly 1,500 trade visitors, primarily regional importers and distributors.
A networking event was organized at the Tunisian Residence in Nairobi on the sidelines of the show, bringing together Tunisian companies with around twenty economic and institutional players from the Kenyan medical sector.
This provided an opportunity to consolidate relationships, establish the basis for future collaboration, and reinforce Tunisia’s image as a strategic regional partner.
With over 14,000 healthcare facilities registered in 2022 — a 13% increase over five years — and pharmaceutical imports reaching $793.4 million in 2024 (4% of total imports), Kenya is emerging as a promising market.
The country aims to become a regional medical hub and is investing heavily in improving its hospital infrastructure.
The business mission to Kenya was conducted with the support of the Qawafel project and the Arab-Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) program.
The ‘Qawafel’ project, which supports the internationalization of Tunisian start-ups and SMEs on the African continent, is financed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
The project’s main goal is to contribute to job creation and inclusive economic development in Tunisia, as well as its integration into African markets.
The AATB program is a multi-donor, multi-country, multi-organization initiative that aims to promote and increase trade and investment between African and Arab countries.
