China explores ways for further cooperation with Ethiopia in coffee sector

Addis Ababa February 10, 2023 (FBC) – The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan visited the local coffee plantations in Keffa, Zone of South West Ethiopia Peoples’ Regional State. 

In his social media post, Ambassador Zhao Zhiyuan said he had discussed with the local coffee planters and explored ways for future cooperation. 

The Ambassador also met with Negash Wagesho, Deputy President of Southwest Ethiopia Peoples Regional State, and the two discussed future cooperation between both sides.

Figures from Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) showed that Ethiopia exported 11,935.65 metric tons of coffee to China during the last Ethiopian fiscal year earning 65.31 million U.S. dollars, up by 84 percent year on year.

The increase has made China the seventh major importer of Ethiopian coffee last fiscal year (July 8, 2021-July 7, 2022), up from 33rd in the previous fiscal year (July 8, 2020-July 7, 2021)

Ethiopia obtained a record 1.4 billion U.S. dollars from exporting over 300,000 metric tons of coffee last Ethiopian fiscal year. The top five export destinations were Germany, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Belgium and Japan, ECTA stated.

By: Yonathan Yoseph