Naivasha, Kenya, 19 March 2025 – TradeMark Africa had the honour of welcoming Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands to the Naivasha Inland Container Depot (ICD) today, celebrating more than 14 years of transformative trade facilitation along East Africa’s Northern Corridor. The visit reaffirmed the strong trade partnership between Kenya and the Netherlands and the support by the Netherlands through TradeMark Africa to implement initiatives for reducing trade barriers and lowering the time and cost of doing business.
During the visit, TMA’s Deputy CEO, Allen Sophia Asiimwe, highlighted the organization’s transformative trade initiatives along the Northern Corridor, showcasing efforts to reduce cross-border trade times, lower business costs, and create a more efficient and sustainable trading environment. The Netherlands has been a key supporter of these programs, reinforcing Kenya’s position as a major export hub in the region.
“The state visit by Their Majesties underscores our shared commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation—not just between Kenya and The Netherlands, but across Eastern Africa in partnership with organisations such as TradeMark Africa,” said Asiimwe. “With the Netherlands’ support, we continue to implement programmes that have significant impact on the ease of doing business and facilitating access to export markets, from reducing non-tariff barriers to scaling innovative programmes in Africa.”
The Netherlands, a major partner in these programs, has demonstrated its long-standing commitment to supporting Kenya’s trade development. Dutch companies are among the largest investors in Kenya and East Africa, with significant contributions in major sectors such as horticulture, logistics, petroleum, and tea. Bilateral trade continues to thrive, with Kenya exporting $706 million worth of goods to the Netherlands in 2023—an annualised growth of 4.84% over the past five years.
During a national address at State House in Nairobi, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands emphasised the strong partnership between Kenya and the Netherlands. He highlighted their collaboration in trade, security, and stability, as well as their shared commitment to sustainable development, food security, and water management. He also noted that the Netherlands and Kenya are like-minded partners within the United Nations.
“This visit shows just how closely our interests are aligned and how strong our ties have become. And not just our governments, but also our businesses, our NGOs and many private partners in Kenya and The Netherlands where we have teamed up on joint initiatives,” he said during the address.
The visit also brought together key representatives of the Kenyan government, including Cabinet Secretaries Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport), Lee Kinyanjui (Investments, Trade, and Industry), and Mutahi Kagwe (Agriculture). Their presence underscores the collaborative efforts between Kenya’s government, private sector, and development partners to drive sustainable economic growth.
