Indonesia’s main
exports to Kenya in 2025 included vegetable oils and fats, paper products,
chemicals, plastics and textiles. /HANDOUT
The Association of
Southeast Asian Nations are looking to ride on culture, crafts and food
exchange programmes to grow their trade influence with Kenya.
This was revealed during a showcase at the 2026 edition of
the Indonesian culinary arts and culture at the ASEAN Food Festival (AFF) 2026.
The event was
organised by the ASEAN Committee (which includes Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines
and Thailand) to deepen commercial and people-to-people links with Kenya.
The committee’s current
chair, who is the Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya, Witjaksono Adji, noted that more than 1000 visitors
attended the showcase.
“The diversity of ASEAN countries, speaking different
languages and coming from different
backgrounds, yet working, developing, and sharing prosperity together. This
same spirit is reflected in this event—a
variety of cuisines, presented with rich flavour and harmoniously
coexisting,” said Adji.
Indonesia’s stand
was among the busiest, offering dishes such as nasi goreng, satay, bakso,
siomay and traditional snacks. Visitors also browsed batik fabrics, woven
textiles and small handicrafts.
Private-sector
brands with an established presence in Kenya, including Indomie and Indocafe,
also exhibited products at the festival.
The event comes as
trade between Kenya and Indonesia continues to grow.
According to UN
Comtrade data compiled by Trading Economics, Indonesia exported goods worth
about $522.7 million to Kenya in 2025, while Indonesia imported about $168.4
million from Kenya, putting total two-way trade near $691 million.
Indonesia’s main
exports to Kenya in 2025 included vegetable oils and fats, paper products,
chemicals, plastics and textiles.
Kenya’s leading
exports to Indonesia were cocoa and cocoa preparations, chemicals, leather
products, vegetables and machinery-related goods.
The figures
suggest a sharp increase from earlier years and underline Indonesia’s growing
commercial footprint in East Africa, where Kenya serves as a regional logistics
and financial hub.
Kenyan government
officials attending the event said cultural exchanges can support broader
economic cooperation, especially in trade, tourism, education and investment.
Kenya, meanwhile,
has sought to diversify trading partners beyond traditional markets in Europe,
China and the United States.