Internal Trade
Internal Trade
The Department of Internal trade is responsible for trade development policy, promotion of retail and wholesale markets and trade within the country
Mission: To Facilitate Orderly Growth and Development of Domestic Trade in Kenya.
Vision: To Be a Leader in Promoting Competitive Domestic Trade in Kenya.
From the above two broad mandates, the Department of Internal Trade derives her functions as:-
- Formulation, review and monitoring implementation of domestic trade policies in collaboration with county governments;
- Monitor the impact of trade policies and practices on domestic trade;
- Conduct research on trade related matters e.g. in product design, marketing, distribution, and use of ICT and E-commerce;
- Coordination of the activities of all national institutions and agencies responsible for facilitation of domestic to provide trade support services through trade facilitation, access to business information , advice on standards, packaging, quality control, marketing and distributional channels .
- Promotion of wholesale and retail trade and markets through initiatives such as:-
- Promoting programmes on franchising in wholesale business in rural areas;
- Developing skills upgrading programs in wholesaling and distribution;
- Identifying areas where markets can be established
- Establishment and construction of wholesale hubs and tier 1 retail markets;
- Simplification of business licensing (One Stop Shop for licensing, registration and taxation);
- Facilitate the establishment of BMOs and promotion of the formation of Producer Business Groups.
- Facilitating increased access to trade finance for the development of Micro and Small Enterprises
- Provision of business advisory services to BMOs to enhance competitiveness, growth and development of their enterprises
- Profiling of Domestic markets to promote trade and investment opportunities
- Liaison with County Governments and other relevant stakeholders on promotion of trade development programmes and activities
Organization of the Department
The Department is organized in three Divisions namely Trade Policy Division; Business Support Services Division; and Trade Monitoring and Research Division. The responsibility of the divisions are listed below:
Trade Policy Division
- Formulation and review of domestic trade policies
- Identify Trade Policy issues impacting on the competitiveness and growth of trade and investment
- Undertake research on trade policy issues
- Publicize, articulate and explain the research findings and recommendation to the stakeholders
- Promotion of use of E-Commerce
- Collaborate and monitor trade development activities in counties in the Rift valley and Nairobi regions
Business Support Services Division
- Promoting and facilitating cross border trade
- Facilitating increased access to trade finance
- Provision of trade information to stakeholders
- Conduct research on trade related matters
- Facilitate Market Access
- Collaborate and monitor trade development activities in counties in Nyanza, Western and Central Regions
Trade Monitoring and Research Division
- Implementation of Vision 2030 flagship projects aimed at improving the supply chain in the country
- Conduct research on trade related matters
- Publicize, articulate and explain the research findings and recommendation to the stakeholders
- Gathering and dissemination of trade information
- Profile the domestic markets to map trade opportunities
- Collaborate and monitor trade development activities in counties in Eastern, North Eastern and Coast Regions