Valentine’s Day pushes Ethiopia, export cut flower in mass

February 14, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — High red roses Demand by lovers for Valentine’s Day by westerners, has shoot up Ethiopia’s cut flowers export to the international market on daily bases.

According to Ethiopia horticulture producers and exporters association president Tsegaye Abebe, in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, Ethiopia exports six planeloads, some 2 million stems of cut flowers, daily to the international market.

Last year, Ethiopia earned over 125 million. USDs from exports of flower, which is a 5-fold increase compared to 2006,

Tsegaye strongly believes that Ethiopia’s new flower investment is booming very fast and will soon become Ethiopia’s major export to foreign nations.

“By next year flowers which now cover only 1% of Ethiopians total GDP could account 10% of Ethiopia’s total export” he said adding “ I think flowers will catch up to coffee within 5 years.”

Coffee is Ethiopia’s leading traditional cash crop export, which accounts 40 % of the total export.

Currently Ethiopia exports more than 8 million stems of flower a month to over 40 countries.

Ethiopia’s flowers export is expected to hit 166 million USD this year and by 2013/2014 Ethiopia sees to earn up to 700 million USD annually.

Government offers of incentives to both foreign and Ethiopian investors including five years tax holiday, duty-free import of capital goods, loans up to 70 percent of start– up costs with the favorable geographic nature of the country to the investment has collectively played a tremendous role in booming the new investment.

The new Industry has created a job opportunity to thousands of people in one of the world’s poorest nation with a total population of 81million and average per capita income of 160 dollars.

According to Ethiopia horticulture producers and exporters association the industry currently has opened a job opportunity to some 50,000 Ethiopians, of whom 80% are women.