The fourth edition of the Kenyan based flower exhibition IFTEX ended last with good results for all participating companies. Although less international flower buyers attended the show, the quality of visitors was high resulting in a good overall outcome. Overall, 223 exhibiting companies and 2,778 participants attended the three day fair that was held in the Oshwal Center in Westlands, Nairobi.
The expo was opened by Kenya’s First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta. In her speech while opening the expo she said,“I wish to reassure all the consumers of our highly acclaimed flowers that the country continuously strives for responsible and safe production of cut flowers. We also strive to protect and conserve the natural environment and promote the welfare of all farm staff for sustainability”.
In the Best Flowers Quality Awards for Breeders under the category of Roses, the Platinum Award was clinched by De Ruiter East Africa Ltd with the standard rose “Rhodos”. De Ruiter East Africa’s red rose Rhodos, took center-stage during this year’s IFTEX with elaborate displays and much attention from show visitors. Rhodos is a premium rose with a clean red hue and good shape. The rose enjoys significant market presence and is currently regarded as one of the best reds out of Africa. Rhodos has an average stem lenght of 80cm and above, and a vaselife of up to 15 days. It grows a headsize of average 5cm at 1700 altitude. 
The target for Tanzania’s horticultural industry is to hit an annual export value of 1 billion US Dollars in 2018 and almost double it in the following two years to reach 1.85 billion Dollars by 2020, says Jacqueline Mkindi, CEO of the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA).
Looking back over the past twenty four months Oscar shilliebo technical sales manager Dow Agrosciences, is proud of the company’s per formance even though it has been exceptionally difficult year all round in the industry. With the next year underway and plenty of strategic plans in place, Shilliebo looks on with anticipation to the next twelve months.
There comes a time in the business world when integrity, honesty, openness, personal excellence, continual self-improvement, and mutual respect become valued constituents for things to move in the right direction. With these core beliefs, Silpack readily takes on all challenges, and pride themselves on seeing them through and holding themselves accountable to their customers, honoring their commitments, and striving for the highest quality in new and current developments.