Standard Chartered's head, wealth and retail banking and deputy CEO China | Group Head, Global Chinese Richard Li, speaks at the launch of the Standard Chartered China–Kenya Trade Corridor/ HANDOUT

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Standard Chartered has launched a China–Kenya Trade Corridor, an initiative designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises expand internationally and trade more easily across borders.

This is targeted at SMEs in both Chinaand Africa, with a keen focus on Kenya.

Theinitiativereflectsthebank’slong-standingcommitmenttoenablinginternational growthforSMEs.

This move signalsarenewedfocusonstrengtheningChina-Africatrade tiesandgivingbusinessesthepracticalfinancialtoolstheyneedtooperatewithconfidence in new and often complex markets.

“TradebetweenChinaandAfricacontinuestodeepen,drivenbystrongbusinesslinksand evolvingsupplychains.Thislaunchreflectsour commitmenttohelpingSMEsexpand internationally,”saidRichardLi,head,wealth and retailbankinganddeputyCEOChina, Grouphead,globalChinese.

“Weareseeinggrowingdemandforefficientmulti-currencysolutions,particularlyas Renminbiadoptionincreases.Bothourglobalnetworkandlocalexpertisehelpclients simplifytrade,improveworkingcapitalandunlocknewopportunities”hesaid.

TradebetweenKenyaandChinacontinuestogrowrapidly.ChinaisKenya’slargesttrading partner,accountingfor22.7 per cent ofimportsinthefirsthalfof2025.

Bilateraltradereached $2.2billion (Sh284.3 billion) inthefirstquarteralone. Recentpolicychanges,includingChinagranting98 per cent duty-free access to Kenyan exports, are expected to drive further growth.

ChineseinvestmentinKenyaisalsorising,especiallyininfrastructure,manufacturingand industrialparks. Majordevelopments,suchasthe$1.5billion (Sh193.8)China-fundedhighway completedin  late2025,highlightthestrengthofthispartnership.

Kenya’sstrategicposition, anchoredbythePortofMombasa,continuestomakeitakeygatewaytoAfrica.

TheChina-AfricaTradeCorridoraimstomakecross-bordertradesimplerandmoreefficient. ItoffersSMEstailoredfinancing,streamlinedcashandcapitalmanagement,andseamless banking across multiple markets.

BytappingintoStandardChartered’snetworkacrossAsia, Africa and theMiddleEast, businessescanmovecapitalfaster,cutcostsandaccessnew opportunities, management noted.

“KenyaisakeygatewaytoEastAfrica,withstronggrowthintradeandinvestmentflows withChina.ThislaunchstrengthensoursupportforSMEswithpractical,accessiblefinancial solutions,”saidEdithChumba,headofwealthandretailbankingforKenyaandEast Africa.