A remarkable and transformative journey has begun!!! The first-ever COMESA-EU Horticulture Connect has been unveiled in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together COMESA Horticulture producers and European Union buyers from the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Italy to co-create business opportunities, advance strategic engagement, build partnerships, and create market linkages.
Convened on the sidelines of the 18th COMESA Business Forum and the 24th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government, the COMESA EU- Horticulture Connect is in line with COMESA’s mandate to contribute to market access and trade facilitation. The connect was held under the theme: Leveraging Digitalisation to Deepen Regional Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.”
Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kenya, delivered a keynote address, with the COMESA Secretary General, H.E. Chileshe Kapwepwe, Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Kenya, Lana Žutelija, from the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Zambia, and COMESA delivering remarkable speeches.
Together, the speakers highlighted the importance of bold innovations, harmonised regional standards and policies, investments, and public-private partnerships in unlocking the horticulture sector for competitiveness, enhanced trade facilitation, regional integration, and global market linkages.
A high-level public-private partnership discussion brought to the fore the urgent need to address challenges impacting the horticultural sector; among them, lack of infrastructure, unstable policies, lack of harmonised standards, technology, capacity building, logistical challenges, and financing for horticulture farmers.
High-level dignitaries from the Government, Member States, the European Union, Agri-business, farmers, and ordinary citizens discussed various topics, including boosting agricultural productivity through smart agriculture to enhance the value chain, digitalization of trade and promotion of investment, and enhanced trade through digital transformation.
Secretary General Chileshe M. Kapwepwe remarked that the event offers an exciting opportunity to build on gains already achieved, adding that the engagement with the delegates from the European Union is essential to advance business partnerships and investment opportunities
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, urged the private sector to seize this moment as opportunities are vast in sustainable production, value addition, regional trade, and access to the lucrative European market. ” Let this COMESA–European Union Team Leader Environment and Climate, Rural Development, Trade Cooperation, Ms Lana Zutelija, pledged continued support from the European Union in promoting trade facilitation in the COMESA region.
Supported by the COMESA EDF Institutional Capacity Building Programme, the COMESA-EU Connect platform builds on the achievements of the EU-funded COMESA Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP) by facilitating Business-to-Business meetings, farm visits, Business-to-Government engagements, and partnership dialogues, further strengthening market linkages and fostering inclusive economic growth.
