Ethiopia Targets Global Coffee Market with Foreign Investor

The National Coffee Association of Ethiopia believes that opening up the coffee wholesale market and retail trade to foreign investors could have significant benefits for the country’s coffee industry.

The association’s president, Hussain Ambo, argues that currently there are quality issues at different stages of the coffee supply chain, 40% at the farmer level, 40% at the supplier level, and 20% at the exporter level. He thinks allowing foreign investors to participate in the trade could help address these quality problems.

Ambo explains that foreign investor involvement would likely improve the overall quality of the Ethiopia coffee exported to the global market. This, in turn, would enable foreign buyers to purchase coffee directly from producers at better prices.

Furthermore, Ambo believes this policy change could economically benefit Ethiopian coffee farmers by increasing their production and productivity. He emphasizes the need to work closely with farmers to drive improvements in coffee quality and market access.

Ultimately, the association sees opening up the coffee trade to foreign investors as a way to boost Ethiopia’s foreign exchange earnings from its coffee exports by enhancing the quality and marketability of the country’s coffee products.

Interstingly, last week, Ethiopian coffee exporters reported clashing with producers due to their failure to pay for the coffee they buy on time. Read More…

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