Eight Kenyan exporter of slashed flowers made 78 linkages worth an estimated $ 259,000 at the World Floral Expo in Dallas , TX , USA . The business firm were part of a delegation led by the Kenya Flower Council , a USAID Hub grantee . Their trip to the U.S. permit them to connect with U.S. buyers to further efforts to expand Kenya ’s part of the U.S. disregard flower food market .
“ Today we met with possible middleman and from my observance a lot needs to be done in enlightening them on logistics . Their preferred terms of payment is CIF [ price , indemnity and payload ] and not watch chain [ complimentary on board ] . We are grateful for this great chance , ” said Irene Nkatha , Sales Manager of Red Lands Roses .
Kenya is the leading global exporter of cut rose to the European Union with a mart share of 38 percent . Yet , the area only has a 1 pct grocery portion in the U.S. where it competes against major suppliers such as Colombia and Ecuador which have lower logistics costs and transportation sentence . With high - timber flowers , a impregnable trade association and large U.S. food market , however , there is an opportunity for Kenya to flesh out tariff - free exports of bloom to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act ( AGOA ) .
The exporters ’ involvement in World Floral Expo advanced recommendations in theKenya National AGOA Strategy and Action Plan , 2018 - 2023 , designed to increase exports in the cut flowers sector . During their misstep to the U.S. , Kenya Flower Council and the house were able to forgather market intelligence , establish relationships with U.S. stakeholders and bring up awareness of the Kenyan flower brand – all action that will heighten Kenya ’s ability to diffuse the U.S. market . Higher flower export will also contribute to Kenya ’s end of raising exportation to the U.S. by 20 percent yearly to make $ 744 million by 2022 , while also bring more diverse pick to meet U.S. consumers ’ demand .
“ This is a very potential mart for Kenya debate the bit of visitors who are serious and uncoerced to do business with us . We look onward to having more of such opportunities since this serve as a platform to market the Kenya flower make , ” pronounce Boaz Chemweno , Sales Manager of Mzurri Flowers .
The Hub ’s grant with Kenya Flower Council aims to increase Kenya ’s share of the U.S. market for cut flowers by December 2019 . The Hub and Kenya Flower Council work together to raise cut flower exports by boosting the visibility of Kenyan flowers in the U.S. market through targeted product promotion activities and by build the content of exporter to run into U.S. packaging and market entry requirements .
For more information : East Africa Trade and Investment Hubwww.eatradehub.org
