Kenya, China in talks to expand tea access to Chinese market

As a follow-up of the recent State Visit to the People’s Republic of China, President William Ruto met Fuzhou Benny Tea Industries Chairman Zhang Chaobin on Tuesday to discuss ways of increasing access of Kenyan tea to the Chinese market.

Benny Tea Industries ranks among the top three companies in China’s supply chain in tea production and retail. Various types of refined speciality teas are the core of Benny’s products.

The engagement brought together stakeholders in the tea sector, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya Tea Development Agency and the Kenya Tea Board. Focus on expansion of markets for Kenyan produce underlines President Ruto’s strategic push to boost growth, packaging and export of orthodox and specialty teas in overseas markets.

Benny Tea Industries is looking at fulfilling their annual requirements of orthodox tea from the Kenyan market. The chairman also committed to invest in modern orthodox tea production factories in selected tea-growing counties, as well as improving value addition of Kenya’s orthodox tea.

Kenya is seeking to promote bilateral trade relations with China by increasing the export of key commodities, including tea, coffee, avocado and macadamia, among other products, to the Chinese market.

The delegation from Fujian Province was accompanied by Kenya’s Deputy Head of Mission in China, Ambassador Lynette Ndile.