Kenyan flower industrialists concerned about trade pact endorsement

Kenya’s flower industrialists expressed concern about the uncertainty of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) deal that was signed between the EU and the East African Community (EAC).

Kenya Flower Council (KFC) CEO Jane Ngige told a media briefing in Nairobi that all member states’ parliament are required to endorse the deal by the end of June, yet there are concerns about the dynamics of different countries in the EAC, some of which are currently undergoing elections and could delay endorsing the agreement.

The EPA, which was initiated by all players in October 2014, should come into force in October.

Kenya’s exports account for 40 percent of all EU flower imports.

The East African nation exports only seven percent of its local production.

The EPA deal provides Kenyan flowers a duty free and quota free access to the EU market which absorbs a majority of its flower exports.

"We must work hard to safeguard the market share due to the significance of the flower industry," Ngige said. "We have a lot of potential to increase export earnings if we can access more international markets."

As part of market diversification, Kenya wants to reduce its reliance on the flower auction in Netherlands and sell more flowers directly to individual countries.

Source: www.coastweek.com