Kenya and the Netherlands signed an agreement to enhance export of horticulture products through the Standard Gauge Railways (SGR).
The collaboration aims at enhancing Kenya’s horticulture industry, a key foreign exchange earner valued at approximately 1.3 billion Euros.
Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, said that the deal involves the development of a cool logistics corridor on the railway system for transportation of fresh produce to the port of Mombasa for onward export to Europe.
Speaking during the signing, CS Macharia said the partnership will focus on the development of the Cool Logistics Corridor that aims to develop sea freight supply chains for fresh produce in Kenya.
“To make the railway system ready for transporting refrigerated fresh produce, Kenya Railways Corporation has embarked on re-modification work to install reefer plug-in points for the containers,” said Macharia.
CS Macharia said that Kenya’s key gateway, the port of Mombasa, as well as the SGR stations, will be equipped to support freight of frozen horticulture products in order to enhance international trade.
“The SGR network has the capacity and speed required to transport frozen fresh produce to the port of Mombasa from any consolidation centre along the rail line,” said CS.
He at the same time assured that the Government of Kenya is committed to any innovations that improves its capacities and economy saying that “this partnership on development of cool logistics corridors for sea freight supply chains for fresh produce through the port of Mombasa will also mitigate carbon emissions.”
The Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, of the Netherlands, Mrs Liesje Schreinemacher, said that the Kingdom of Netherlands is committed to creating a sustainable sea freight solution for fresh produce that will reinforce Kenya as a regional hub for handling perishable goods.
By Hamdi Mohamud
