Turkish Natural Stone Exporters Focus on Kenyan Market
The Turkish natural stone sector, which brings Turkey USD 2 billion in foreign exchange earnings annually and is seeking to diversify its export markets, has set its sights on Kenya, the largest economy in East and Central Africa.
Turkey's natural stone sector, which generates USD 2 billion in foreign currency annually for the country and seeks to diversify export markets, has set its sights on Kenya, the largest economy in East and Central Africa.
The Aegean Exporters Association of Mining, which aims to increase natural stone exports to Kenya and neighboring countries Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania—identified as target countries by the Ministry of Commerce in 2025—is organizing a "Kenya Natural Stone Sectoral Trade Mission" with 10 companies.
Stating that they will hold bilateral business meetings with natural stone importers from Kenya and neighboring countries in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, on 30 July 2025, Aegean Exporters Association of Mining Chairman İbrahim Alimoğlu said they are taking leaven to exports on the African continent.
South Africa and Nigeria will be the next stops after Kenya
Highlighting information that Kenya has a growing middle class with rising disposable income, Alimoğlu said: "Kenya ranks 56th in the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business' index. With rising incomes in Kenya, growth is expected in the construction, tourism, education, health and entertainment sectors. We are establishing our position in Kenya now for Turkish natural stone to be used in new shopping centers, residences and service buildings. We are carrying out our first sectoral trade mission to the African market, but it will not be the last. We recently launched the 'Sustainability-Focused Overseas Marketing in the Natural Stone Sector' URGE Project with the participation of 29 companies. In our URGE Project, Nigeria and South Africa have been identified as target markets. In the coming years, we will visit these countries as part of our URGE Project. We see demand for processed natural stone in Kenya growing."
The companies participating in the Aegean Exporters Association of Mining's "Kenya Natural Stone Sectoral Trade Mission" are: Alimoğlu Madencilik Sanayii ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi, Alimoğlu Mermer Granit, Çelikkol Marble Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi, COBANEXPORT Madencilik, Ermaş Madencilik Turizm Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi, Haz Mermer Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi, Merdivenci Marble, Özçınar Elektrik Malzemeleri Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi, Şenler Marble, and TT Stone.
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