By GPC Reporter

Horticulture stakeholders from across Eastern Africa will meet in Nairobi next week to address trade and logistics challenges affecting the movement and competitiveness of fresh produce in regional and international markets.

The two-day Regional Public-Private Dialogue on Horticultural Logistics and Trade Facilitation will be held on September 22 and 23, 2026, bringing together government officials, industry leaders, private-sector players, development partners and other actors in the horticulture value chain.

The meeting will also mark the official launch of the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA), a regional private-sector-led platform established to strengthen coordination, advocacy and market access in the sector.

HoCEA is working with national horticulture associations across the region with support from TradeMark Africa (TMA). The council is expected to provide the industry with a stronger regional voice when engaging governments, policymakers and other institutions on issues affecting competitiveness.

Horticulture is a major contributor to employment, export earnings, food systems and private-sector growth across Eastern Africa. However, producers and exporters continue to face challenges that increase costs and cause delays in getting produce to markets.

These include high freight costs, inadequate cold-chain infrastructure, weak first-mile aggregation systems, fragmented digital trade processes and delays at ports and border points.

Dr Jacqueline Mkindi, HoCEA interim chair and chief executive officer of the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA), said inconsistent sanitary and phytosanitary requirements and certification procedures were also affecting the sector.

“These challenges include high freight costs, inadequate cold-chain infrastructure, weak first-mile aggregation systems, fragmented digital trade processes, delays at ports and borders,” Dr Mkindi said.

The dialogue will focus on four key areas: trade logistics and cold-chain systems; digital trade and smart corridors; sanitary and phytosanitary measures and non-tariff barriers; and market access under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Organisers said the meeting would go beyond identifying challenges to agreeing on practical measures for addressing them.

The first day will focus on technical discussions and validation of priority constraints, while the second will seek to translate the findings into policy and investment commitments.

The discussions are expected to result in a Nairobi Communiqué outlining priority actions, responsible institutions and proposed timelines.

Dr Mkindi said regional cooperation was necessary to address problems that individual businesses or countries could not solve independently.

“The process is intended to strengthen collaboration between government, industry and regional institutions and create clearer pathways for addressing challenges that cannot be resolved by individual businesses or countries acting alone,” she said.

The event will culminate in the formal launch of HoCEA and discussions on its immediate priorities and a 90-day action plan.