On September 19, the USAID Hub signed a grant with Kenya Flower Council with the goal of increasing Kenya’s share of the U.S. market for cut flowers by December 2019. The Hub and Kenya Flower Council will 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 building the capacity of exporters to meet U.S. packaging and market entry requirements.
“Kenya is the largest floriculture exporter to Europe and the world's third largest exporter of flowers and foliage. Kenyan entrepreneurs are now ready to enter the U.S. market and the USAID Hub will enable them to achieve this goal,” said the Hub’s Chief of Party, Juan Estrada-Valle.
Cut flower exports have made the flower sector one of Kenya’s leading export exchange earners. The industry’s role in the national economy was recognized in the recently launched National African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Strategy, 2018-2023, where it was identified as a priority sector in the country’s effort to double exports to the U.S. through AGOA’s duty-free access to the U.S. market.
"The signing of this grant provides an opportunity for Kenyan exporters to have a footprint into the U.S. with a good understanding of the market structure and requirements. We are certain that Kenyan flowers can complement what already exists through increased promotion and taking advantage of the recently launched AGOA strategy," said Kenya Flower Council Chief Executive Officer, Clement Tulezi.
For more information:
USAID
www.usaid.gov