India High Commissioner to Kenya Adarsh Swaika inaugurates the Mega Silk Exhibition-cum-Buyer Seller Meet organized by ISEPC in Nairobi on October 7, 2025/HANDOUT
A delegation of 18 leading silk and textile from Indian Silk
Export Promotion Council visited Nairobi from October 6-7 to showcase the
richness, versatility, and craftsmanship of Indian silk.
Indian High Commissioner to Kenya Adarsh Swaika inaugurated
the Mega Silk Exhibition-cum-Buyer Seller Meet organized by ISEPC inn Nairobi.
India High Commission said the meeting aimed to promote direct engagement between Indian silk exporters and Kenyan importers and retailers.
The mission added that the engagement is also expected to strengthen
trade and business linkages in the textile and apparel sectors.
“It provided an opportunity for Kenyan buyers to explore a
diverse range of silk products including fabrics, garments, scarves, stoles,
and home furnishings,” the High Commissioner said in a statement.
The exhibition underscored the growing potential of
India-Kenya economic partnership and the complementarity between India’s robust
textile industry and Kenya’s vibrant fashion sector.
“Textiles are a key component of India-Kenya trade. In the
last financial year, India exported textile products worth $194.57 million to
Kenya, out of total exports of $ 3.13 billion. The sector offers significant
opportunities for enhancing bilateral trade,” the statement added.
In September 2022, Kenya and India signed an MoU to
establish a foundation to support and promote trade and investment in the
textile industry between the two states.
The agreement was set to provide an opportunity for both
countries to bring investments by showcasing their strong roots and culture in
textile and channelling investors for growth and expansion.
In December 2023, the two states announced collaboration in
the exchange of technological advancements in the textile industry aimed at
boosting the Kenya Kwanza administration’s textile revival strategy.
The India International Textile Machinery Exhibitions (ITME)
Society hosted a textile technology exhibition from November 30 to December 2,
2023.
The exhibition sought to promote joint ventures and business
cooperation for Indian textile and machine manufacturers, along with other 25
participating countries, to explore the potential of Kenya as a new business.
State Department for Industry PS Juma Mukhwana at the time said
the government was focused on ensuring the textile sector generates maximum jobs
and alleviates unemployment.
India is the world's second-largest silk producer and the
largest consumer, specializing in four types of natural silk — Mulberry, Eri,
Tasar, and Muga, each with unique textures.
The country's textile sector also includes vibrant cotton fabrics and animal fibers like wool, and luxurious decorations like gold, silver, and mica. Indian silk connects to the nation's history and art, seen in iconic silk sarees, while its textile industry provides significant rural employment and foreign exchange.
