A trial container shipment to the Netherlands for onward distribution to retailers in several European countries reflects the growth of Rwanda as a major contender in the supply of avocados to Europe.
The Kingdom of Netherlands Ambassador to Rwanda, Joan Wiegman, was guest of honour at a ceremony to mark the occasion.
The consignment sent from Kigali consisted of 22.4 tonnes of the premium variety of Hass avocado with a balanced size distribution, said Seun Rasheed, chief executive officer of SOUK Farms, which made the shipment.
“As soon as the trial shipment was sent, we received a second order. We are extremely happy to have achieved this breakthrough. This inaugural shipment is the culmination of many years of work, and just the beginning of a promising journey. The steady development of the avocado industry for export over the past five years reflects Rwanda’s commitment to planting over a million trees a year, focusing on the Hass and Fuerte varieties," he added.
This shipment comes exactly one year after the first shipment of avocados exported by a consortium of exporters from Rwanda, including SOUK Farms, to the Middle East via Dubai.
"On the Middle East market front too, we continue to capitalise on our proven customer satisfaction and supply this equally important market," added Rasheed.
The shipment was made possible through a collaborative effort between Maersk, Indonesia’s IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative, Netherlands’ Flying Swans which develops logistics projects in emerging markets for perishable exports, the National Agriculture Export Board of Rwanda and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Rwanda.
“Building on the success of this trial, we plan to export up to 120 tonnes of avocados to Europe by the end of the next season, enabling Rwanda to be considered as a source of supply for the European market," concluded Rasheed.
