NAKURU, Kenya, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Inside one of the greenhouses at United Selections, a flower breeding company located in Kenya's Nakuru County, the sparkle and fragrance of colorful roses create a soothing atmosphere for visitors.
Nathan Joseck, assistant crop manager at United Selections, said the company works closely with its main clients, particularly growers, to select, breed and conduct trials on flowers that are resistant to pests and diseases, high-yielding and in high demand in both local and overseas markets.
"One of our varieties that is doing well in China is Jumilia. Everyone is going for it. Our agent is on the ground and can link up with growers in China," said Joseck.
He noted that the company also has a representative in China who has been forging relationships with local flower growers to better understand their preferences.
As one of the theme countries for the 2026 "Export to China" initiative, Kenya is showcasing its wide range of flowers to potential buyers at the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE), which opened in Shanghai on Nov. 5 and runs through Nov. 10.
Floice Mukabana, chief executive officer of the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA), said that the country has set up a flower wall at the expo, in a bid to woo more Chinese importers.
Mukabana observed that the implementation of China's zero tariff policy for 53 African countries, including Kenya, will ultimately boost exports of flowers and other agricultural commodities like avocados, macadamia nuts, tea and coffee to the Chinese market.
Fidelis Mwendwa, marketing assistant at United Selections, said local flower growers are keen on expanding their presence in the Chinese market.
He noted that the zero tariff policy will be a boon to Kenya's floriculture sector, increasing volumes supplied to the Chinese market and broadening revenue streams for local growers.
"Definitely, the zero tariff policy will increase supply. It has created a favorable environment for breeders and even the production side," Mwendwa said.
"We expect to see a spike in orders, more transactions and reduced freight cost. Zero tariff policy is an advantage, and we will be able to ferry more products to the Chinese market," he added.
Mwendwa stressed that Kenya has a wide range of flowers that could resonate with Chinese buyers, hence the need to build a durable relationship with them through platforms like CIIE.
"We are always open to partnerships with companies or production firms in China to do business and grow together," said Mwendwa, adding that the expo could unlock new collaborative ventures with Chinese flower growers.
Dennis Mwirigi, chairman of KEPROBA and director at Flamingo Horticulture Kenya Limited, said Kenyan flower exporters look forward to building relationships with the Chinese market during CIIE, and they see China as an opportunity to expand their export footprint.
Mwirigi said that with zero-tariff treatment now in place, Kenyan growers are looking at both sea-and-rail freight and direct air cargo as routes into the Chinese market, and hope to use customs facilitation in the Changsha area of the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone to deal with Chinese importers more directly.
"For us, taking part in the CIIE is a very important opportunity. On one hand it lets Chinese consumers see what Kenya can offer, and on the other it helps Kenyan producers understand what the Chinese market needs," he said.
According to Kenyan authorities, Kenya exported around 800 million U.S. dollars' worth of cut flowers to the rest of the world in 2025, with less than 5 percent going to China.
"We want that number to grow substantially because we believe China is a huge market," Mwirigi added.
