Netherlands Trade Mission

The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development of the Netherlands Ms. Reinette Klever is leading fifty Dutch Company leaders to participate in the Netherlands Trade Mission on Sustainable Agriculture and Water Development in Kenya. Close to 150 Dutch companies are operating in Kenya mainly in the Agriculture and Water & Sanitation Sectors.

The two missions, with nearly 90 participants, will be running parallel to the expected visit of their majesties, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, The two will be in the country from 18th – 20th March 2025.

Giving the Keynote address on behalf of CS Lee Kinyanjui, the PS for the State Department for Investment Promotion, Abubakar H. Abubakar noted that Kenya’s Agriculture and Water sectors were replete with investment opportunities.

He revealed that the Agricultural sector contributes 20% to the GDP and employs 40% of the total population. In 2023, the sector grew by 6.5%, rebounding from a contraction of 1.5% in 2022. 

Similarly, PS Abubakar noted that the Water sector presents an immense investment opportunity as a human right and a critical enabler of Agriculture. At the moment, the country faces increasing water scarcity with only 58 percent of the rural and 72% of urban populations having access to safe drinking water.

PS Abubakar said Kenya has established Special Economic Zones and Industrial Parks in Mombasa, Machakos, and Naivasha with accompanying tax incentives to investors. The Country also enjoys a vibrant agri-tech eco-system supported by skilled and youthful manpower capable of leveraging digital innovations for farming efficiencies.

Other incentives include Kenya being the gateway to East Africa’s 500 million-strong consumer market a key player in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and a connection to all the major cities in Africa, making it an ideal investment destination.