The Turkish Steel Exporters' Association (CIB) and the Turkish Ministry of Economy organized a meeting in Istanbul on November 15 with Kenya's 10 biggest steel producing companies, including Doshi Group. At the event, the Kenyan guests were informed by Turkish representatives about Turkish steel products and about the steel sector in Turkey. After wide-ranging talks in Istanbul, the Kenyan delegation then visited the facilities of leading Turkish steel producers including Isdemir, Ekinciler Demir elik, Yolbulan Metalurji, Yücel Boru, lhanlar Demir elik and MMK Metalurji.
According to the CIB's statement, although the Kenyan steel market is of great importance for Turkey, trade relations between the two countries are quite weak. In 2012, Kenya's total steel imports amounted to 1.33 million metric tons, while 46.3 percent or 478,971 metric tons of these imports consisted of hot rolled flat steel. In the given year, South Africa supplied the largest share, 35.7 percent, of Kenya's steel imports, while Turkey exported only 6.4 percent or 65,899 metric tons of steel to the country, ranking fourth among its steel suppliers. In 2013, steel trade relations between Turkey and Kenya have not reached the expected level, despite the steps which have been taken.
CIS chairman Namik Ekinci stated that Kenya is of great importance for Turkey because of its location amid many neighboring countries and its high commercial potential. He said that for this reason they organized the current trade visit with the Kenyans. He said he expected such visits would result in effective trade cooperation between both countries and that Kenya's steel market will develop further in the coming period.
