East Africa's horticulture industry is convening in Nairobi to tackle costly trade bottlenecks hindering the export of fresh produce across borders.

• The Nairobi Summit on September 22-23 aims to reduce expensive freight, weak cold chains, and fragmented trade procedures.
• A key outcome will be the launch of the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA), a private-sector led platform.
• Discussions will focus on trade logistics, digital trade, sanitary measures, and market access under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Local sugar millers are appealing to the government to implement stricter controls on imported sugar, arguing that current import practices are negatively impacting their operations.

• Local sugar millers are urging the government to regulate the volume and release schedule of imported sugar into the market.
• Key figures include Sanjay Patel, Managing Director of Butali Sugar, and Stephen Kihumba, Operations Manager at Mumias Sugar Mills.
• The National Assembly Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives is conducting inspections to assess the impact of sugar imports on local millers and farmers.

Kenyan avocado and fresh herb exporter Karakuta Fresh Produce Ltd is planning to list on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) by introduction, pending approval from the NSE and Capital Markets Authority (CMA).

• The listing aims to provide access to capital for production expansion and entry into new export markets, including China.
• Karakuta Fresh Produce, founded by CEO Grace Ngungi in 2018, sources avocados from over 3,000 farmers in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
• The company currently exports to the European Union, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and India, and also exports various fresh herbs.