Clement Tulezi, chief executive officer of the Kenya Flower Council, told journalists in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that sales to markets such as the United Arab Emirates and China have expanded this year.

"We are searching for more markets beyond the European Union, which has been our traditional market," Tulezi said.

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the flower sector is one of the country's leading sources of foreign exchange, alongside diaspora remittances, tourism, tea, and coffee.

The sector remains optimistic after a strong Valentine's Day season, which typically accounts for between 30 and 35 percent of annual sales, Tulezi said.

He said that 20 new investors have entered the sector so far this year, expanding the total area under flower cultivation to about 5,300 hectares. 

Source: Xinhua