Addis Ababa: The 20th African Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition and the First African Coffee Week 2024 kicked off today at the Millennium Hall, in Addis Ababa.
A four-day conference is co-organized by the three African coffee based organizations namely, Inter African Coffee Organization, Robusta Coffee Agency of Africa and Madagascar and African Fine Coffee Association.
The annual conference brought together around 2,000 regional and international coffee roasters, traders, producers, buyers, and professionals under one roof to discuss policies, sustainability, access to finance, coffee competitions and other actions.
Considering Ethiopia as one of the major global coffee producers, this conference is a great testament being convened in Ethiopia to recognize the country's potential for coffee development, it was indicated.
Opening the conference, Chairman of Inter African Coffee Organization (IACO) and Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture Girma Amente said the conference is a pivotal platform for knowledge exchange and experience sharing.
Acknowledging the role of coffee in empowering the economy, Girma said the government of Ethiopia has priorized coffee as one of valuable economic growth engines and is committed to support the sector.
Massive reforms have also been implemented to resolve the challenges being witnessed in the sector both globally and locally, he indicated.
Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority Director-General Adugna Debela said on his part, the establishment of new reforms and the amendment of regulations have been resulting in a positive impact in the Ethiopian coffee sector.
The director General also underlined the need for enhancing the participation of the private sector that would significantly transform the coffee development sector.
African Coffee Week is crucial to further advocate the coffee sector, Secretary General of Inter Africa Coffee Organization, Ambassador Solomon Rutega said.
Expressing the continued commitment of IACO to support the coffee sector, the secretary general said we can navigate any challenges together.
Ethiopia hosts the event for the fourth time as the East African nation is one of Africa's specialty coffee countries.
This African Coffee dialogue and business platform is underway under the theme: "Specialty Coffee at Origin
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
