Kenya Hosts Inaugural COMESA–EU Horticulture Forum
Nairobi, October 6, 2025 — Kenya today hosted the first-ever horticultural forum between the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the European Union (EU) at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).
The COMESA–EU Horticulture Forum, running from October 6–8, takes place alongside the 18th COMESA Business Forum and the 24th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government. The forum has brought together regional policymakers, business leaders, EU trade representatives, and private sector actors to strengthen trade relations and unlock new opportunities in horticultural exports.
The event marks a significant step toward enhancing economic cooperation between COMESA and the EU, with a focus on integrating African horticulture into global value chains. Delegations include representatives from the COMESA Business Council, the EU mission to Zambia and COMESA, export partners such as the Netherlands, and stakeholders from across Europe and Africa’s agribusiness sectors.
Cabinet Secretary for Trade, Industry and Investment, Lee Kinyanjui, highlighted the forum’s strategic importance in boosting competitiveness and expanding access to international markets.
“The opportunities are vast — from sustainable production and value addition to enhanced regional trade and entry into the lucrative European market. But success requires greater investment, stronger partnerships, and bold innovation,” said CS Kinyanjui.
Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, praised the forum as a timely initiative to directly connect African producers with EU buyers and build capacity for export-readiness.
“This platform facilitates direct linkages between our exporters and EU markets, provides technical knowledge on aligning quality standards, and showcases the immense potential of African agribusiness,” said CS Kagwe.
“It also enables frank public–private dialogue on dismantling non-tariff barriers, improving logistics, and deepening intra-African trade.”
The forum’s key focus areas include:
• Digital transformation in agriculture
• Harmonized regulatory frameworks
• Cold chain and logistics development
• Standards, certification, and traceability
• Inclusion of women and youth-led enterprises
• Direct B2B engagements between exporters and buyers
Regina Ombam, Principal Secretary at the State Department for Trade, emphasized the forum’s actionable outcomes and long-term benefits.
“This is not just a conversation — it’s a platform for action. We expect it to result in real B2B partnerships and export deals,” said PS Ombam.
“Digitalization, stronger value chains, and addressing logistics gaps are central to making African horticulture globally competitive.”
The COMESA–EU Horticulture Forum underscores COMESA’s commitment to promoting inclusive trade, empowering agribusiness, and strengthening its footprint in international horticultural markets.