Eran Nagan, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands to Kenya; Ms Pascalle Grotenhuis, Vice Minister for International Development of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; John Mwendwa, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Kenya; and Evelyn Heyi, Director of Agriculture, State Department for Agriculture, during the Sustainable Trade Roundtable, where they led discussions on strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations between Kenya and the Netherlands

The three-year initiatives were unveiled during the Sustainable Trade Roundtable in Nairobi, which brought together government officials, Dutch businesses, industry associations and other stakeholders to explore ways of strengthening trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

The first programme, valued at EUR 1.74 million, will be implemented by Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSD Kenya), the Business Registration Service (BRS) and the Competition Authority of Kenya.

It will focus on accelerating business climate reforms through digital regulatory services, enhanced financial transparency and improved competitiveness in public procurement.

The second initiative, valued at EUR 1 million, will be implemented by Genesis Analytics, Aaereton Blu and KenInvest.

It will support the development of investment-friendly policies and establish an early-warning observatory through a dedicated Kenya Investment Delivery Unit to identify emerging regulatory challenges and address rising business costs.

The initiatives are expected to strengthen institutional capacity, reduce regulatory barriers and create a more predictable environment for businesses and investors.

Speaking during the roundtable, Netherlands Vice Minister for International Development Pascalle Grotenhuis described Kenya as a strategic partner, noting that it was among three priority countries in Sub-Saharan Africa alongside South Africa and Ghana.

“Kenya is a strategic partner for the Netherlands and we see significant opportunities to deepen our economic cooperation. By bringing together government and business, we can identify practical solutions to improve the business environment, unlock investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between our two countries. We remain committed to working with Kenya to advance sustainable economic growth and create opportunities for businesses and communities,” said Grotenhuis.

She identified agriculture and food systems, water, health, agrologistics, renewable energy, digitalisation and climate-resilient infrastructure as key areas of cooperation.

Grotenhuis also highlighted the potential of strategic economic corridors, particularly the Northern Corridor, in strengthening Kenya's position as a regional trade gateway.

Director of Agriculture in the State Department for Agriculture Evelyn Heyi said closer cooperation between the two countries was essential in facilitating trade and expanding market access for Kenyan agricultural products.

“Kenya and the Netherlands share a strong economic relationship, particularly in agriculture, which presents significant opportunities for both countries. Strengthening this partnership requires continued collaboration between our governments to streamline regulatory frameworks, address trade barriers and create a more predictable environment for businesses. This will be critical in facilitating trade, expanding market access and unlocking the full potential of our agricultural partnership,” said Heyi.

During the engagement, Dutch companies operating in Kenya highlighted several challenges affecting their businesses, including high air freight costs, delayed Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds, double taxation within the East African Community and regulatory and policy unpredictability.

Participants called for sustained government engagement and stronger public-private partnerships to address the concerns, improve investor confidence and enhance Kenya's competitiveness as an investment destination.

The roundtable builds on longstanding economic and diplomatic relations between Kenya and the Netherlands, including the State Visit in March 2025 and the establishment of the Kenya-Netherlands Joint Trade Committee, which provides a structured platform for economic dialogue and cooperation.

The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade relations, mobilising private sector investment and promoting sustainable economic growth through continued collaboration between government and business.