The East and Central Africa Global Competitiveness Hub (ECA Hub)/USAID East Africa has won the Silver Award for "Best Stand Design - National Pavilion" at the World Floral Expo in Miami, Florida on March 4- 6 2008. The award was presented to the Hub for its custom designed, open plan East Africa Pavilion.

This year's show hosted 150 exhibitors, including 8 ECA Hub-sponsored flower exporting companies
from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Burundi. This is the third consecutive year that the Hub/USAID East Africa has sponsored regional flower growers to attend the trade show as part of an East Africa Pavilion.

“This award is tremendously gratifying. It is the result of a lot of hard work over the past
three years to highlight the unique varieties and capabilities of East African flower growers", says Finn Holm-Olsen, Manager of the East and Central Africa Trade Hub, a regional trade development project funded by USAID East Africa. “East African flowers, of course, have had established markets in the EU via the Dutch auctions for years, but the U.S. market has been elusive, largely due to lack of direct transport links. Many of our companies are keen to develop/increase linkages with U.S. entities and sell directly in the U.S. market as they do in Europe. This award is recognition of the fact that the competitiveness of the cut flowers sector across East Africa is beginning to resonate in the U.S. With growing awareness among buyers in the U.S. - and the pending direct air connection between Nairobi and New York - that dream is closer to reality.” World Floral Expo Press Release

The World Floral Expo is held annually in Miami, Florida, the largest port of entry for cut
flowers in the United States. The show attracts exhibitors from the floral industry the world
over who display their flower products to potential importers in the United States.

Only open to qualified buyers such as wholesale distributors, volume retailers and other huge volume buyers, the Miami Expo guarantees the quality standards of floral buyers visiting the trade show.

“The show also featured a large delegation from East Africa, especially Kenya, the No. 1
supplier of roses and other cut flowers to Europe. African producers are now looking to
expand sales into the United States, traditionally a market dominated by Colombia,
Ecuador, Costa Rica and other parts of Latin America. African growers also are working
with their Latin counterparts to establish global standards on labor and the environment,
as more buyers demand certifications in Europe and beyond, said Jane Ngige, chief
executive of the Kenya Flower Council. Members in her group export more than $200
million in flowers yearly.” Doreen Hemlock, South Florida Sun-Sentinel


Congratulations to all of the East African Pavilion exhibitors... East African flowers are open for business!