IFTF2022, the Netherlands flora-hub, a gate for Rwandan flowers

This year, Rwanda will be represented by five professionals from the floriculture sector at the 12th edition of the Netherlands’ International Floriculture Trade Fair (IFTF), which began today, November 9th, until November 11th, 2022, at the Expo Greater Amsterdam in Vijfhuizen, The Netherlands.

This year’s IFTF marks the sixth time Rwanda has attended and remains an excellent opportunity to showcase Rwanda’s growing floriculture sector and increase the visibility of the “Rwandafresh – Quality Horticulture Products” brand. The trade fair also provides an opportunity to increase the number of international buyers, as this forum is the world’s largest and most important trade exhibition for international flower growers and buyers from all over the world. 

Rwanda’s participation in the IFTF was made possible by the close collaboration between the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB). The participants from Rwanda include representatives from Bella flowers, Oxfam and Duhamic-ADRI as well as two local farmers, Ms. MUKAMAZIMPAKA Margueritte and Mr. GASANA Augustin, who travelled to the Netherlands to showcase their work and learn the best practices from other professionals from around the world.

Special mention goes to the fruitful partnership with Oxfam and DUHAMIC ADRI, the implementers of a 4-year horticulture project (2020-2024) funded by the European Union and the Irish Aid, who made the participation of local farmers in this year’s trade fair possible.

H.E. Olivier Jean Patrick NDUHUNGIREHE, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the Kingdom of the Netherlands said that:“Rwanda ‘s participation in this trade fair is a great opportunity to be at the center of where the demand meets the supply in the field of cut flowers. Our participation in the IFTF will play a crucial role in the growth of Rwanda’s floriculture industry as it offers an opportunity to buyers and investors to learn about opportunities in our growing sector and experience the quality of our beautiful flowers”.

Mr. Patrick MANZI MBAYIHA, Chief Marketing Officer of Bella Flowers, on behalf of Rwandan flower exporters, said that “Although we sell more than 90% of our flowers to the Dutch market, we know that their final destinations are in countries that are currently embroiled in political and economic strife. But we came here to shape our business strategies while learning from our peers in other flower-producing countries, and we are hoping for the best in the flower trade going forward.”

According to Mrs. MUKAMAZIMPAKA and Mr. GASANA, the two local farmers from the Rulindo district who attended this year, the attendance to the IFTF was a welcome opportunity to explore and learn about techniques about production and packaging. They mentioned that they will go back home with an improved view how to best to do their work and share the knowledge they were able to acquire during the international exhibition.

At the IFTF, the ‘Rwandafresh’ stand (no. 6.11) is located in hall D, which will serve as a point of contact for new buyers of Rwandan roses and summer flowers.

In the last five years, revenues from export of Rwandan flowers increased from 1,243,427 USD to 6,854,822 USD.