Addis Ababa, 7 November 2014 (WIC) – The 3rd International Ethiopian Coffee Conference organized by the Ethiopian Coffee Exporters Association kicked off in Addis Ababa yesterday.
Ethiopian President Dr. Mulatu Teshome, United States Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission to Ethiopia Mr. PeterVrooman, International Coffee Organization Executive Director Robério Oliveira Silva, and the Specialty Coffee Association of America CEO RicRhinehart opened yesterday’s third international coffee conference, “Towards Quality and Traceability” with over 300 Ethiopian and international registered participants.
Addressing the conference with a keynote, President Dr Mulatu Teshome said it’s high time to boost the country’s coffee production and increase its export share.
US Deputy Chiefof Mission Peter Vrooman remarked on the strategic significance of the coffee industry for Ethiopia’s development and growth: “Ethiopia’s coffee export sector has great untapped potential and the U.S. is working to help identify new markets and private sector partners and investors, including from the U.S. Our dual purpose is to not only ensure the expansion of the coffee industry in Ethiopia but also the greatly improved livelihoods of a legion of small coffee growers whose entire families will benefit.”
Industry leaders, including Starbucks Coffee Company, Nestle Nescafe Dolce Gusto, Mondelez International and MIDROC-Ethiopia presented new perspectives on business opportunities.
The conference is convened yearly to discuss opportunities for and constraints on certifications, genetic mapping, improving quality, capitalizing on Ethiopia’s unique heritage and varieties, and prospects for the sustainable expansion of Ethiopia’s coffee sector and the livelihood benefits to female as well as male small growers or workers in the industry.