The Kenyan government and the European Union Ambassador Henriette Geiger have kicked off plans to facilitate the shift in the exportation of horticultural produce from air to sea freight.

Yesterday, a meeting at the Port of Mombasa signified the official start of engagements to map out pathways towards moving more horticultural exports by sea.

Successful implementation of the plans in the next ten years will see 50 per cent of Kenya’s horticulture produce exported through the sea. The move will reduce the carbon footprint and the cost of exports.

Several larger companies have already started to use sea freight to export flowers, vegetables, and fruits, but the sector is now aiming for a transformative and larger shift.

The transition is supported by the Netherlands, Denmark, the European Union, TradeMark Africa (TMA), the Kenyan government, and the private sector.

The transition from air to sea freight comes in the wake of horticulture consumers calling for a radical shift to facilitate the delivery of fresh produce to their supermarket shelves and dining tables in Europe.

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs Salim Mvurya noted that through the Bottom Up Transformation Agenda (BETA), the Kwanza government will create an enabling environment for investments.

 “We in the Blue Economy sector are more than happy and willing to support this initiative because the reason that we have a stand-alone ministry of Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs is for Kenya to be able to realize her potential in the Blue Economy sector.”

CS Mvurya underscored the government’s commitment to supporting sea freight; he divulged that in the next few weeks, the CS for Transport will travel to the Netherlands to sign an official agreement to push forward the transition.

“The transition resonates well with the kind of investments around the port of Mombasa because the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is just across.

This transition will be critical in inspiring other investments within the SEZ,’’ he said, confident that the transition will be seamless and the country will reap many benefits.

Netherlands Ambassador to Kenya, Mr Maarten Brouwer, noted that the transition from air freight to sea freight will have to go hand in hand with the private sector.