Kenya seeks direct flights to Latin American countries to boost trade

Dec 7, 2016: Kenya's quest to sell its horticultural produce in South American states is getting hampered due to lack of direct flights to Latin America.

Kenya's flowers are re-exported to Brazil from other European nations, denying farmers handsome returns on their produce. Trade principal secretary Chris Kiptoo said that there is a need for Kenya and Latin America to work towards establishing direct flights to the region. "Our produce cannot access the Latin America market directly for lack of direct flights between the two continents but we are trying to work out something to establish one," said Kiptoo. He was speaking during an international business summit in Nairobi between Kenya, Latin America and the Caribbean countries. Kenya is seeking to bypass Europe and sell its flowers directly to these nations, he added. Latin America currently gets its flowers from the Netherlands auction, which imports Kenyan produce for resale to Latin and Caribbean countries.