from MARIA MACHARIA in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Bureau
NAIROBI, (CAJ News) – KENYA is calling for the acceleration of digital transformation and harmonising of trade standards to unlock the full potential of the horticultural industry in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
Mutahi Kagwe, Kenya’s Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary, emphasised this at the inaugural COMESA–European Union (EU) Horticulture Connect 2025 in Nairobi, noting the need to leverage technology as a driver of competitiveness, sustainability and resilience in regional trade.
“Digital tools must be the engine that powers a transformed regional economy, one that is competitive, resilient and climate-proof,” Kagwe said.
The theme of the event was “Leveraging Digitalization to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.”
Kenya’s horticultural sector is pivotal to the national economy, generating more than KS 137 billion (US$1,06 billion) in 2024 and employing over 200 000 people.
The country exports close to 60 million flower stems daily, representing 40 percent of all roses sold in the European Union.
Ongoing efforts such as the National Horticulture Traceability System (NHTS) launched in April 2025, and partnerships with European countries to modernise cold-chain infrastructure, are part of Kenya’s commitment to digital transformation in agriculture.
Kagwe however noted that challenges including high freight costs, currency fluctuations, and increasingly stringent EU market standards threaten to constrain growth.
He called on COMESA member states to eliminate non-tariff barriers, harmonize sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and digitalize customs systems to promote seamless regional trade.
The COMESA–European Union (EU) Horticulture Connect has been held ahead of the COMESA Summit, set for Nairobi on Thursday.
Delegates at the summit are expected to deliberate on advancing digital integration, promoting sustainable trade, and driving inclusive economic transformation across the continent’s largest trading bloc.
COMESA is a regional economic community with 21 member states.
– CAJ News