Stakeholders in the East African horticulture sector will convene in Nairobi next week to address high logistics costs and trade bottlenecks that are hindering the industry's competitiveness.

• Key challenges include high freight costs, inadequate cold-chain infrastructure, and delays at ports and borders.
• The meeting will also mark the launch of the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA), a new private sector-led regional platform.
• Dr Jacqueline Mkindi, HoCEA interim chair, highlighted the impact on smallholder farmers, women and youth-led businesses, and SMEs, in addition to large exporters.