NAIROBI, July 6 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 enterprises, including about 90 from China, recently participated in an expo in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with visitors impressed with the quality, affordability and variety of the Chinese-made products.
During the third China (Linyi)-Kenya International Commodity Exhibition in Nairobi, which ran from July 2 to 4, Linet Abuna carefully examined hardware, farm machinery and household products before stopping to exchange contact information with several Chinese exhibitors.
"The Chinese products I am seeing are of good quality, which is what I love most, and they are also affordable. The Chinese exhibitors are effective in communication, especially when it comes to delivery timelines," said Abuna, a budding entrepreneur based in Nairobi.
After speaking with several exhibitors, Abuna said she found potential business partners whose products matched her business model of providing quality yet affordable goods to consumers.
The exhibition showcased industrial machinery, construction materials, automotive parts, farm equipment, consumer goods and clean energy technologies from Linyi, east China's Shandong Province.
Zhang Dong, president of the Kenya China Chamber of Commerce (Shandong), said the exhibition highlighted the vitality of China-Kenya economic and trade ties and reflected the two countries' shared pursuit of mutually beneficial cooperation.
"This exhibition is more than a display of products -- it is a bridge connecting businesses, industries and people," Zhang said, adding that China remains committed to promoting trade, investment and technology exchange to support Kenya's economic transformation.
Standing at a booth displaying modern building materials, Immaculate Silingi said the products attracted strong interest from local visitors, many of whom asked about prices, bulk purchases and logistics.
Silingi, a marketing representative for a Chinese company, said the Kenyan market has shown strong demand for Chinese-made products such as tarpaulins, which are widely used at construction sites.
"What I am learning from this expo is that the Kenyan market has great potential. Chinese companies can come and bring their products here because Kenyans are very open to working with Chinese people," Silingi said.
As more visitors flocked to the exhibition, Florence Wambui showcased custom-made safety footwear designed for high-risk jobs such as climbing electricity poles.
The Chinese shoemaker, based in Shandong Province, has been operating for three decades and specializes in safety and sports shoes. By taking part in the exhibition, the company hopes to increase brand awareness in the Kenyan market, Wambui said.
"Our products have been very well received. Many people have visited our stand, especially employees from Kenya Power and other electricity companies. They are looking for safety shoes," Wambui added.
Enock Mutai, a project officer at the Kenya National Farmers' Federation, said the exhibition offered local farmers and agro-processors an opportunity to learn about modern agricultural machinery from China and explore how it could help transform a sector that contributes more than 25 percent of Kenya's gross domestic product.
"This exhibition allows farmers, cooperatives and agribusinesses to engage directly with manufacturers of modern farm equipment, irrigation technologies and agro-processing solutions that can improve productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and increase farmers' incomes," Mutai said. ■