Asia and the Pacific
Supporting Indian trade and investment for Africa (SITA)
Contact
First name
Govind
Last name
Venuprasad
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Fostering economic development through trade
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is engaging India’s powerhouse economy, its know-how, technology and investment strength to invigorate exports from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
Through the Supporting Indian Trade and Investment for Africa (SITA) project, ITC is working with small businesses in East Africa in the technology, textile and apparel sectors, pulses, spices, and sunflower oil, and partnering them with institutions and businesses from India.
For example, In Rwanda and Kenya we are helping farmers to grow rosemary commercially alongside their main crops. By diversifying into produce with increasing demand, farmers get a steady secondary income, which leads to greater economic resilience, and more jobs for predominantly female workers.
We also mentored 300 East African women in business and technical expertise and provided 72 women entrepreneurs with e-commerce platforms to market their brands globally.
Our goal is to increase job opportunities and incomes and foster economic development through trade. Through SITA, ITC has facilitated $69 million worth of additional exports from these five East African countries to India and elsewhere, and $111 million of investments from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in India to East Africa.
KPR Mill Ltd, an integrated textile manufacturing company from India, opened its first overseas garment unit, in Ethiopia’s Mekelle Industrial Park in 2019, in an investment facilitated by SITA
SITA/ MItreeki Initiative has been crucial to elevating my brand and vision. It has played an instrumental role in Afropian's transformation.
SITA/ MItreeki Initiative has been crucial to elevating my brand and vision. It has played an instrumental role in Afropian's transformation.
Hortense Mbea
Afropian, Ethiopia, Woman fashion-preneur
Through SITA/Mitreeki we were able to meet a reputable Indian buyer that has given us a 10 year buy-back contract, providing assurance and shielding us from market forces. On our own, we would not have been able to achieve that.
Through SITA/Mitreeki we were able to meet a reputable Indian buyer that has given us a 10 year buy-back contract, providing assurance and shielding us from market forces. On our own, we would not have been able to achieve that.
Carolin Chepkemboi Tormoi
Co-Founder, Eldo Tea, Kenya
SITA plays a crucial role in ensuring that business relationships between buyers in India and East African sellers meet the highest standards and commitment. I thank them for that.
SITA plays a crucial role in ensuring that business relationships between buyers in India and East African sellers meet the highest standards and commitment. I thank them for that.
Geemon Korah
Mane Kancor, India
We are very fortunate that SITA has been with us, organizing a training to help us improve our practices towards environmental compliance.
We are very fortunate that SITA has been with us, organizing a training to help us improve our practices towards environmental compliance.
Professor Thomas Kipkurgat
Rivatex East Africa Limited, Kenya
Video
4 March 2022
SITA beneficiary designer Fozia Endrias featured in Vogue Italia (2020)
Fozia Endrias
Over 120 textile and leather SMEs attending SITA’s technical session on environmental compliance
Maina Chege, Frontlite Media
Implementing partners
Sustainable Development Goals
This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
<p>Supporting Indian Trade and Investment for Africa (SITA) is a South-South Trade and Investment Cooperation Programme. It is the United Kingdom’s (FCDO) first Aid-for-Trade initiative in Triangular Cooperation. Implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC), SITA has facilitated USD 60 million of additional trade and USD 111 million of investment between SMEs in India and five East African countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. SITA delivers durable impact by developing productive and technical capacities, generating jobs, enabling technology and knowledge transfer, and creating networks between business support institutions. The programme focuses on empowering women and youth in sectors as diverse as high-value agriculture and light manufacturing, while environmental compliance and climate-smart practices underpin SITA’s economic outcomes.</p>
Type
Project
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Funding partners
Date
-
External ID
A854
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On
Asia and the Pacific
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The new Asia-Pacific Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that came into force in January 2022 covers a third of the world economy and will eliminate 90% of tariffs among 15 East Asian and Pacific countries. The agreement will also reduce costs and improve policy cooperation for the benefit of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises which are the engine of most economies. ITC will focus on the ability of these enterprises to compete on sustainable and specialty goods and services.
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Region (for relations)
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Cyan
Import hash
783175904
External ID
RAS