Ethiopia to boost coffee export

Februray 19, 2000 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia, Africa’s leading coffee exporter, planned its coffee export to increase by one third this year. Ethiopian Agriculture ministry disclosed.

Export-promotion official under the ministry ,Solomon Tilahun, said “Ethiopia will ship 220,000 metric tones of beans in the year to June 30, 2008.”

“In five years we plan to increase coffee production by 15%”Tilahun said.

The horn of Africa nation has also planned to encourage foreign participation in the industry to help expand production and to boom foreign income.

Ethiopian coffee, one of the top best coffee world wide, accountrs over 60% of the total foreign currency of the nation.

The new strategy is based on encouraging and offering trainings to farmers working separately and in small scale level.

“We plan to increase the productivity of small-holders by offering farmers trainings, incentives and advice” tilahun said

Incentives include export-tax relief, suspention of leasing costs for between five a seven years, depending on the amount of capital invested.

Last year Ethiopia exported 176,000 tones coffee to the United States and other European countries.

According the ministry of Agriculture, currently over 100 coffee exporters and unions are involved in the export.

Last year Ethiopia resolved a dispute with US- based star bucks coffee chain over trade marks after the two sides cut a deal in principle to sign a licensing marketing deal which gives recognition to the country’s ownership of its premium varieties of coffee beans.

(ST)