A 32-member Dutch horticulture business delegation comprising 19 leading agribusiness companies has arrived in Ghana on a three-day trade mission aimed at deepening Dutch-Ghanaian cooperation in the horticultural sector.
The delegation is led by the Dutch Vice Minister of Agriculture, H.E. Marten van den Berg. The mission runs from May 26 to May 28, 2025.
The initiative is hosted by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana in collaboration with the Netherlands-Africa Business Council (NABC). It brings together stakeholders from both countries—including government agencies, private sector actors, and academic institutions—to explore investment opportunities and promote sustainable partnerships across the horticulture value chain.
This mission signals a renewed commitment from the Netherlands to integrate development cooperation with private sector engagement in Ghana. It features a mix of business matchmaking sessions, field visits, and high-level policy engagements designed to stimulate Dutch investment interest in Ghana’s burgeoning horticultural industry.
Among the mission’s objectives are to attract Dutch agribusinesses to invest in Ghana, showcase how development cooperation is improving the local business environment, and identify the challenges that potential investors face. These insights are expected to inform future Dutch agricultural policies in Ghana.
Key highlights include visits to horticultural enterprises like Iribov and Fruitmaster Greenhouse in the Volta Region, a Farmer Field Day involving smallholder farmers and Dutch partners, and a business reception attended by Ghanaian government officials and trade stakeholders. These activities will showcase Dutch contributions in seed technology, greenhouse production, cold storage, agri-finance, and agricultural training.
A major milestone of the mission is the signing of a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, and Vice Minister Marten van den Berg. The MoU reaffirms both nations’ commitment to ongoing collaboration and inaugurates new Technical Working Groups focused on seeds, agribusiness, and cocoa.
The Dutch government views this mission as more than a trade initiative—it’s a platform for long-term relationship building and knowledge exchange.
According to Marten van den Berg, Dutch farmers have set global benchmarks in agricultural productivity and innovation, and such partnerships can significantly benefit Ghana’s agrifood ambitions.
Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ghana Jeroen Verheul, emphasized that the trade mission reflects a shared ambition to strengthen commercial ties while fostering inclusive, sustainable development. He noted that the Netherlands sees Ghana not only as an investment destination but also as a strategic partner.
The trade mission also aligns with Ghana’s recently launched Feed Ghana Program, which aims to increase domestic vegetable production and promote farming as a business. With ongoing Dutch investment in agricultural education and training, the Netherlands is well-positioned to support this national agenda making the 2025 trade mission a strong symbol of growing bilateral ties in agribusiness.