East-West Seed (EWS) took part in the Dutch trade mission to Kenya, led by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. The mission brought together government, business, and agricultural stakeholders to explore opportunities for collaboration.
EWS was represented by Robert Kimonge (Regional Business Head East Africa), Dianah Orinda (Business Development Manager Kenya), and Rutger Groot (Supervisory Board Member and Chair of Knowledge Transfer). The delegation engaged in conversations around the growth potential of vegetable farming in Kenya, with interest in crops such as pumpkin, okra, and African eggplant.
During a meeting with the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Rutger Groot spoke in support of Kenya’s smallholder farmers, whose role in domestic food security is often overlooked. His remarks were met with warm applause and were later featured on Dutch national news and radio (NOS Radio 1).
The team made valuable new connections and received strong backing for EWS’s smallholder-focused approach from local stakeholders, government representatives, and the Netherlands Embassy.
Elsewhere in the region: Lilian Mtei (Supply Chain Lead) represented EWS at the Dutch trade mission to Mozambique that same week, and Coen Everts (Regional Business Head West Africa) joined the mission to Nigeria the following week.
