Kenya is developing infrastructure and looking to new markets to prevent oversupply of vegetables to Europe and a devaluation of produce.
In the aftermath of the volcanic ash cloud airfreight embargo, which grounded flights earlier this year and cost exports around
€20 million, new markets are being sought.
As part of the search, which includes building contacts with Russia and the Middle East, a direct air link between the US and Nairobi is close to fruition.
The project to rework the airport to divide international and domestic flights to aid security is expected to be completed slightly after its initial target of 2012.
Michael Sali Mandu, commercial counsellor for the Kenya High Commission, told freshinfo: “We are producing so much that the UK and Europe cannot absorb all of it. We are looking at new countries to diversify into, especially Russia, China and the US.
“The ash cloud cost €20m in seven days and that was just the initial cost as farmers had to bring up production again. Stocks in cold stores had to be destroyed to make way for new supplies.
“By extending operations it could be an opportunity to build bigger cold stores to cope with three days’ produce rather than one.”
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