Sustainable agriculture and horticulture trade mission to Kenya

Context

From 17 to 20 March 2025, a Dutch trade mission took place in Kenya, focusing on sustainable agriculture and horticulture. Organised by the Dutch government and headed by the former Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, H.E. Reinette Klever, the mission brought together companies and knowledge institutions active in agriculture and water.

Kenya’s agriculture sector contributes approximately 22% to its GDP, with one-third of that coming from horticulture. This highlights both its economic importance and its potential to improve food security and employment. The trade mission aimed to strengthen collaborations between Dutch and Kenyan actors and promote sustainable, high-quality agricultural practices using innovations such as precision farming and biological crop protection.

Involved organisations

Q-Point supported the mission as per the request of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Netherlands Embassy in Kenya. The trade mission included a diverse delegation of Dutch companies, academic institutions, and organisations active in the horticulture sector.

Project goal and outputs

The overall goal of the assignment was to support a trade mission to Kenya successfully, focused on sustainable agriculture and horticulture. This involved providing Dutch companies and organisations with effective matchmaking opportunities and program support to foster meaningful connections with local counterparts, ultimately driving innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development in Kenya’s agricultural sector.

From the overall goal, we came to the following specific objectives:

Tailor-made matchmaking: Organising approximately 5-7 relevant meetings per Dutch company, ensuring alignment between the interests of Dutch participants and Kenyan businesses or institutions. This involved conducting intake conversations, preparing profiles, and arranging meetings.
Matchmaking supervision: Managing matchmaking sessions, ensuring smooth execution, timekeeping, and facilitating introductions during the trade mission.
Program support: Assisting in the organisation of sector-specific activities such as the thematic break-out sessions and the networking event hosted in Naivasha.
Gender diversity: Promoting gender inclusivity within the matchmaking sessions and the broader mission program.
Reporting and evaluation: Providing a detailed final report on the planned and actual meetings, summarising outcomes and potential follow-ups, and evaluating the effectiveness of the matchmaking to refine future missions.