The Co-operative Bank of Kenya has once more confirmed its commitment to the country’s agribusiness sector. The bank has signed a sponsorship deal to support the Naivasha Horticultural Fair 2025.
The bank is going beyond its annual commitment to the horticulture sector through a three-year deal, which saw the bank sector ink a deal worth over US$1.06 billion (KES 137.3 billion), according to The State Department for Agriculture, which also pointed out that the sector had recorded a turnover of over 40% of the country’s workforce in Kenya.
As Kenya’s pioneering agribusiness financier, the bank’s title sponsorship of the Naivasha Horticultural Fair goes beyond a mere alliance – it’s a tactical investment in Kenya’s economic future. “We are connecting face-to-face with 12,000 stakeholders in the horticulture sector, as we are aware that the success of Kenya’s horticulture industry calls for committed financial leadership and the provision of innovative solutions tailored to the industry’s needs,” said Olive Ong’ele, Sector Head Agribusiness at Co-operative Bank.
The sponsorship is a part of the bank’s long-term ambitions to provide extensive support for major sectors, including horticulture, tea, and coffee. Kenya’s horticulture sector is a major earner of foreign exchange for the country through the export of flowers, fruits, and vegetables to the international markets.
During 2025, flower exports alone are expected to hit KES 110 billion (US$851 million), according to the projections made by the Kenya Flower Council.
The Naivasha Horticultural Fair is a perfect place to get to know each other better. Exporters, growers, suppliers, and service providers come here to explore business opportunities and exchange industry insights. Moreover, the importance of these events for the Kenyan economy is huge.
They play a direct role in the improvement of millions of livelihoods, according to KNBS, due to the fact that agriculture leads to 21.3 per cent of Kenya’s GDP and provides 65 per cent of national export earnings. Events that open up possibilities for participants to network and showcase the innovations can contribute to the growth of the sector.
The fair is also the place where the bank shows off its specialized agribusiness banking service the export financing, supply chain financing, and customized loan products for horticultural enterprises. The bank’s team members met the fair’s attendees to discuss various financial requirements and work out how best to tackle the particular issues facing the sector.
“Co-operative Bank doesn’t just serve the horticulture sector through banking;” said Ong’ele. “Our bespoke solutions target the sector’s critical problems: from the seasonal cash flow challenges for smallholder farmers to export credit facilities that are sophisticated enough for flower exporters shipping to Europe. We play a pivotal role in ensuring that our clients never miss out on any of the opportunities as they come, therefore they will have the proper financial infrastructure to do so.”