Building Strategies for Ethiopia’s coffee exports

In June 2012, The Africa Report published an update on the Ethiopian coffee exports warning that Ethiopia’s coffee export could fall dramatically. According to the report, the government had projected $1.1 billion dollar revenue from coffee beans, but with only a month to go before the end of the fiscal year, the country had only managed to earn about $505.6 million from coffee exports. According to the report, coffee exporters complained about the prevailing situation. The report listed various (anonymous) remarks by coffee exporters:

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][blockquote]Coffee was exported by mass without taking into consideration its quality and geographical aspects. This affects our coffee exports in the budget year.[/blockquote]

[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][blockquote]This is a serious problem that needs urgent action by the concerned bodies.[/blockquote]

[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][blockquote]There is a disconnect between coffee prices on the international market and what our government officials think.[/blockquote]

Ethiopia revolutionized trade in coffee and other grains, through the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX), a few years ago.

The ECEA (Ethiopian Coffee Exporters Association) has announced a conference which will focus on future strategies for the Ethiopian coffee exports under the title “Ethiopia Coffee Export Conference – Strengthening the Legacy of Our Coffee.”
The conference will be scheduled on November 8 and 9, 2012 and will take place in the Hilton Hotel in Addis Abeba.

Willem Boot and the industry consultants Kimberly Easson, and John Schluter are taking an active role in the coordination and -behind the scenes- planning of the conference, which is also sponsored by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) and by the American development organization ACDI-VOCA.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]