Co-operative Bank Supports Naivasha Horticultural Fair with Three-Year Sponsorship

Co-operative Bank of Kenya has entered into a three-year sponsorship deal with the Naivasha Horticultural Fair, bolstering its position in one of Kenya’s key export industries.

The horticulture industry remains one of the backbones of the Kenyan economy, accounting for KSh 137.3 billion (US$1.06 billion) export earnings in 2024 as well as employment for more than 40% of the nation’s population, according to State Department for Agriculture.

Olive Ong’ele, Head of the Agribusiness Sector at the bank, clarified that sponsorship was not just about visibility but about backing an industry that propels development in Kenya. “We are directly talking to 12,000 players in the industry because horticulture success is based on financial solutions reflecting real challenges,” she said.

Flower, vegetable, and fruit exports remain Kenya’s priority in terms of foreign exchange. The flower export alone, the Kenya Flower Council estimates, could hit KSh 110 billion (US$851 million) in the year 2025.

The Naivasha Horticultural Fair brings together growers, exporters, suppliers, and service providers. It has become a key platform for networking and knowledge transfer, with agriculture as a sector contributing 21.3% of GDP and approximately 65% of export revenues.

At the fair, Co-op Bank showcased agribusiness products such as export finance and supply chain finance, along with customized loans.

The officials from the bank also interacted with exporters and farmers in understanding problems they encounter.

“Our role is to provide tools that do the job be it supporting smallholder farmers in managing seasonal cash flows or equipping exporters with credit facilities to European markets,” Ong’ele said.

Through their sponsorship of the Naivasha Horticultural Fair, Co-operative Bank is averring to be reaffirming its long-term pledge to agribusiness and to those who drive Kenya’s export economy.

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