Germany’s Import Promotion Desk and Kenya Flower Council to host horticultural trade mission to Kenya

Import Promotion Desk (IPD), an initiative established by the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA) and sequa gGmbH – a non-profit organisation based in Bonn, that promotes the mobility of apprentices, young professionals and vocational training personnel – is expanding its commitment by hosting a delegation of European companies from across the flower importing sector. The trade mission in Kenya (6-10 June 2023) coincides with Iftex, Kenya’s premier floriculture trade show.

While Kenya has deep roots in floriculture, usually, only the large-sized farms are internationally known. IPD takes a different approach: the import promotion initiative works with small and medium-sized enterprises that have settled away from the well-known growing areas around Lake Naivasha, Mount Kenya or Nakuru. The farms IPD is working with have gained many years of experience in the production of cut flowers and produce high-quality roses, and summer flowers.

On this trade mission, flower importers will visit at least ten farms the IPD experts have visited and carefully screened in advance. This way, important criteria such as high quality, minimum quantities and good logistics via Nairobi airport are ensured.

Moreover, the farms are owner-managed, flexible and willing to develop new and exclusive products with their European trading partners and meet special requirements, e.g., packaging, products and delivery times. “The companies are excellent partners for direct trade and can optimally expand the supplier network,” says Dr Andreas Gemählich, IPD expert for Sourcing + Markets for cut flowers. He continues, “We know the companies in Kenya and can thus establish personal contact very quickly. Visiting the farms on the buyers’ trip is also a chance to get to know cut flower cultivation and quality management on site, as well as the people behind it.”

Import Promotion Desk (IPD) is an initiative for import promotion in Germany. The agency serves as a bridge between small and medium-sized enterprises in selected emerging markets and developing countries on the one hand and European importers on the other. The objective is to integrate the partner countries into global trade, thereby contributing towards sustainable economic development in these countries.

IPD introduces exporters from its partner countries to the EU market and assists them in setting up trading relations. For European importers, the IPD opens up new supply sources in the partner countries and assists them in procuring specific products.

IPD is currently active in 15 countries: Egypt, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia, Colombia, Kenya, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

IPD focuses on specific product groups: fresh produce, natural ingredients for foods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, sustainable wood products, cut flowers and sustainable tourism.

IPD has been established and implemented by sequa gGmbH – the global development organisation of German industry and the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA.). The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) funds the agency.

In Germany, IPD has partnered with the Verband des Deutschen Blumen- Gross- und Importhandels e.V., also known as the BGI. Also, they are in good contact with Union Fleurs.

For more information and registration, click HERE

For more information about IPD, visit www.importpromotiondesk.de