On 31 May 2022, the Government of the Netherlands and the Kenya Flower Council signed a Framework of Cooperation to strengthen the adoption of sea freight for perishables in Kenya.
The signing of the framework took place during the International Floriculture Trade Exhibition (IFTEX) at Oshwal Center in Nairobi, Kenya, where Ambassador Maarten Brouwer of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Chairman Richard Fernandes of the Kenya Flower Council board signed the agreement.
The framework aims to strengthen the efforts in adopting sea freight for perishables in Kenya, with a full-time position of an agro-logistics coordinator being developed to coordinate the initiative.
The cooperation between Kenya and the Netherlands in logistics is a continuation of their previous agreements, including a Letter of Intent signed in April 2022 by Minister Liesje Schreinemacher and Cabinet Secretary James Macharia to improve the connection of ports through a 'Cool Logistics Corridor'.
Kenya and the Netherlands have a long-standing cooperation that spans over 40 years, with Kenya being a large horticulture producer and exporter, and the Netherlands being the biggest horticulture trader in the world.
The Framework of Cooperation will involve close collaboration between key stakeholders, including governments, logistics companies, trade associations, growers, exporters, and other private sector players, to develop the Kenyan sea freight capacity and make the country the East-African perishable hub.
