By Africa Science News
Horticulture industry players drawn from nine Eastern African Countries on Tuesday, September.22 launched a platform to promote seamless trade in floriculture across the regional and overseas markets.
Senior government officials, industry executives, regulators, investors and diplomats graced the launch of the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa(HoCEA) in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
A private-sector led platform, HoCEA brings together national horticulture associations from the region to open new markets for flowers while leveraging political goodwill, fiscal and regulatory incentives to eliminate trade barriers.
Regina Akoth Ombam, the principal secretary in the State Department for Trade, under Kenya’s Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry noted that a regional platform was long overdue, to help unlock the full potential of the horticulture sector, accelerate economic growth and generate new jobs.
“This regional platform is a timely and strategic response to the shared challenges and opportunities facing our horticulture industry,” Ombam said in a speech read on her behalf by Mathew Komen, the deputy director for Internal Trade at the State Department for Trade.
Ombam added that the launch of HoCEA is a reflection of maturity of the regional private sector, its determination to move away from fragmented national efforts and harmonize strategies aimed at boosting cross-border trade in flowers.
The launch of HoCEA took place during the Regional Public-Private Dialogue on Horticultural Logistics and Trade Facilitation forum, taking place in Nairobi from Sept.22 to 23, bringing together senior policy makers, industry leaders, development partners, logistics and cold chain actors and regulators.
As a regional platform, HoCEA unites horticulture associations from nine Eastern African Countries under the theme of “Nine Countries. One Region, One Vision”, with the overarching aim of amplifying the sector’s voice on critical matters such as trade, logistics, market access, investment and sustainability.
Jacqueline Mkindi, the HoCEA chairperson said that in addition to addressing market barriers and external shocks that are hampering regional horticulture industry’s competitiveness, the platform will advocate for a unified voice in standards, policies and regulations.
In addition, Mkindi said the regional platform will push for greater access to finance, investments, technology, knowledge and value-addition, with a special focus on small-holder farmers.
Clement Tulezi, the secretary general of HoCEA who is also the chief executive officer, Kenya Flower Council, said that other critical areas the platform will focus on includes trade facilitation and market access, cold chain infrastructure and trade corridors, climate resilience and inclusive value-chain development.
The platform will also promote digital trade, smooth traceability and paperless systems, sustainable production standards in line with demands from some overseas markets, Tulezi said.
Anataria Uwamariya, the director of Business Competitiveness at TradeMark Africa, a Pan-African trade facilitation lobby, said the platform could boost action on shocks impacting negatively on horticulture sector in the region such as Russia-Ukraine crisis, Middle East conflict, rising freight cost, climate disasters, geopolitical tensions and protectionism.