Kenya's economy at a glance

Kenya is the regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa. The country has a market-based economy with a liberalized foreign trade policy.

Several regulatory reforms have been to simplify both foreign and local investment, with the most important of these being the creation of an export processing zone.

Currency: Kenyan Shilling

GDP: (2011): 34.8 billion

Growth Rate: 4,4%

Inflation: 12%

Unemployement: 40% (2001)

Arable Land: 8%

About 75% of Kenyans are engaged in farming. Coffee, tea, corn, wheat and pyrethrum are grown in the highlands. Coconuts, pineapples, cashew nuts, cotton, and sugarcane are grown in the lower-lying areas. Much of the country is savanna, where large numbers of cattle are pastured.

Kenya also produces dairy goods, pork, poultry, and eggs. The country's industries include food processing, flour milling, horticulture, and the manufacture of consumer goods such as plastic, furniture, batteries, clothing, and cigarettes. Petroleum is refined and aluminum, steel, and building materials are produced.

The chief minerals produced are limestone, soda ash, gemstones, salt, and fluorospar.

Kenya attracts many tourists, largely lured by its coastal beaches and varied wildlife, which is protected in parks.

Kenya's chief exports are tea and coffee.Petroleum products, flowers, and fish are also exported.

The leading imports are machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, and plastics.