STORY: Kenyan flowers gaining visibility in Chinese market
SHOOTING TIME: June 7, 2024
DATELINE: June 9, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:20
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Tambuzi flower farm
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Swahili): PETER NDONGA, Worker at Tambuzi flower farm
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): REGINA WAIRIMU, Sales assistant at Tambuzi flower farm
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Swahili): WINFRED GACHENI, Worker at Tambuzi flower farm

STORYLINE:

The vibrant red roses grown in central Kenya's lush highlands have found an eager new market in China.

At the Tambuzi flower farm not far from the capital Nairobi, workers like Peter Ndonga meticulously tend to the blossoming buds.

Since 2011, Ndonga and his colleagues have seen the Chinese market become a crucial export destination for Tambuzi's diverse variety of roses.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Swahili): PETER NDONGA, Worker at Tambuzi flower farm
"The Chinese buyers have been very helpful. They have sustained our work and incomes. This has boosted us as they buy these flowers that we are planting here, and it has boosted the sales and eventually helped us. Also, when they come here, they are happy with the kind of work that we do."

This growing demand from China has boosted Kenya's horticulture sector, bolstering trade and cultural ties between the two nations.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): REGINA WAIRIMU, Sales assistant at Tambuzi flower farm
"The business partnership with the Chinese is helping us reduce the distance because they are creating a ready market for our products, so we have less distance and a ready market for our produce."

The rose planting industry also generates local employment and boosts the incomes of local residents.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Swahili): WINFRED GACHENI, Worker at Tambuzi flower farm
"We are grateful for the Chinese business people who buy our flowers. We look forward to even improved business to improve our welfare, the company too, and Kenya in general."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)