THE Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry has stepped up efforts to source for international business for Kenyan companies and investors after holding its first trade trip in a decade recently.

KNCCI last week led a delegation of 17 people in various sectors to Slovakia and held high level meetings with the Ministry of Trade in Slovakia and the one in charge of foreign affairs.

"The chamber is also planning for a large trade delegation to accompany the President to China in August," said KNCCI chairman Kiprono Kittony.

Similar visits are planned for Mauritius and Dubai.

Kittony said that the Slovakia visit which ended last Friday was geared at expanding the tourism source market for Kenya, increase coffee exports to that country and share ideas on technology transfer to boos agribusiness as well as gain expertise on environmental management.

During the meeting, KNCCI signed a memorandum of understanding with the Slovakia Chamber of Commerce headed by Peter Mihok who also serves as the president of World Chamber Federation.

Yesterday the private sector held a meeting with Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohamed in which the government gave assurance that the sector will be involved in policy formulation relating to international trade matters.

During that meeting, the Cabinet Secretary said the government will also partner with the chamber of commerce in its foreign trade missions.