As manufacturers and buyers gather for the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in China, Chinese industrial technology is transforming production thousands of kilometers away in Africa. 

In Kenya's lakeside city of Kisumu, Chinese-made machinery is helping local manufacturers improve efficiency, expand production and meet growing demand for packaging materials.

From food processing and agriculture to pharmaceuticals and retail, packaging plays a vital role in protecting products, preserving quality and connecting manufacturers with consumers.

At IBS Pack Prints, a packaging company established in 2023, Chinese technology is driving efforts to strengthen local manufacturing and support businesses across western Kenya.

Chinese machinery drives local production

IBS Pack Prints was established to address a shortage of packaging suppliers in western Kenya, a region with numerous tea factories, bakeries and agricultural processing businesses.

Beatrice Omari, the company's administration director, says the investment was intended to bring packaging production closer to manufacturers in the Nyanza and Western regions.

"The director had a vision of polythene packaging because, in this region, we only have one in Eldoret, so we wanted to ensure at least this side is covered," Omari said.

Today, Chinese machinery forms the backbone of the factory's operations, handling printing, processing and cutting of packaging materials.

"Actually, 99% of the machines are from China. Also, the raw materials are from China, like CPP and PET," Omari said, adding that other materials are sourced from Saudi Arabia.

The cooperation extends beyond equipment supply. Chinese engineers traveled to Kenya to install and commission the machinery, ensuring production systems were operational before handing them over to local workers.

"They shipped the machines and also sent their mechanical engineers, who installed every machine and ensured the machines were working before they left the country," she explained.

The investment has strengthened local production capacity while reducing the need for businesses in the region to source all their packaging from distant suppliers.

Automation improves efficiency and skills

Inside the factory, machines print, process, and cut packaging materials as workers monitor production and inspect finished products.

The technology has automated tasks previously performed manually, helping improve efficiency and production consistency.

Eric Onyango, the company's Production Manager, says modern machinery has transformed daily operations.

"Nowadays, you just switch on the machine, and the knife will cut. So, that makes work easier, unlike before when we did our work manually," Onyango said.

However, operating advanced equipment requires technical knowledge, particularly when handling different packaging materials and maintaining production systems.

Onyango traveled to China in 2025 to acquire additional machinery as the company sought to expand its operations.

His experience reflects the growing importance of technical cooperation in helping African manufacturers adopt modern industrial technology.

Beyond improving productivity, such investments create opportunities for workers to develop skills in machine operation, maintenance and quality control.

Packaging strengthens manufacturing value chains

Although packaging is often the final stage of production, it plays a critical role in determining how products reach consumers.

For food processors, it helps preserve quality and protect goods during transportation. For manufacturers and retailers, packaging strengthens branding and product identification.

Henry Koskey, Assistant Branch Manager at Kipchimatt, a retail business in western Kenya, says packaging helps consumers distinguish products from competing brands.

"Packaging identifies items from one manufacturer to another and one company to another," Koskey said.

He cited tea and sugar products from the Kipchimchim Group of Companies as examples of how packaging supports brand recognition.

IBS Pack Prints supplies packaging for bread, tea, sugar, water, ice cream, ice pops and beans, alongside materials used by hospitals and pharmaceutical businesses.

The diversity of its customers highlights the industry's contribution to agriculture, food processing, healthcare and retail.

As Kenya expands local manufacturing and agricultural value addition, reliable packaging will remain essential for businesses seeking to access wider markets.

Challenges and opportunities for growth

Despite technological advances, packaging manufacturers face challenges, including high equipment costs, imported raw materials and unreliable electricity supply.

At IBS Pack Prints, power interruptions can disrupt production and force operators to restart machinery.

"The challenges we are facing mostly occur when there is a power surge. This machine has been made in a way that when the power goes out, everything stops," Onyango explained.

Such disruptions can delay production and increase operating costs, underscoring the importance of reliable infrastructure.

Nevertheless, demand for packaging continues to create opportunities for industrial investment.

For Kenyan businesses, access to Chinese machinery offers opportunities to modernize production, develop technical skills and strengthen manufacturing capacity.

In Kisumu, IBS Pack Prints illustrates how China-Africa trade links are translating into practical industrial development.

As Kenya seeks to expand manufacturing and add value to locally produced goods, packaging is emerging as an important link between technology, production and market access.