Aid in Action

5th World’s Finest Coffee Conference and Exhibition

Coffee players from around the world celebrate East African coffee industry

Kampala, Uganda  | Tuesday, February 19, 2008

 

The East Africa Fine Coffee Association (EAFCA) has just concluded a very successful Fifth Annual Fine Coffee Conference and Exhibition held in Kampala from February 14-16th. This three day event attracted over 500 coffee players from over 30 countries around the world to come together to network, make deals,  and to celebrate the Eastern African coffee industry. President Yoweri Museveni officially opened the conference and urged the sector to focus on adding value to coffee in Africa and to take advantage of new markets and regional opportunities.  US Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Steven Browning, cut the ribbon to officially open the exhibition. During his remarks, Ambassador Browning stressed USAID’s continued commitment to supporting the Uganda coffee sector through USAID Uganda’s Agricultural Productivity Enhancement Program and its follow-on project next year. He applauded the Regional Agriculture Trade Expansion Support Program (RATES) regional work in promoting regional coffee exports and supporting EAFCA, which is now a major player in the world coffee arena.

In his opening remarks, Secretary General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Erastus Mwencha, applauded USAID’s support to the coffee sector and to other value chains in the region. He noted that thanks to USAID East Africa support to coffee cotton/textiles dairy and staple foods, a number of regional private sector trade associations have emerged that are working closely with COMESA to address regional trade issues.

Conference goers had an opportunity to hear a bullish outlook on coffee prices from coffee marketing guru, Judith Gaines, whose presentation is always a highlight of the conference and much anticipated.  Leaders of the International Coffee Organization, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe and Japan (SCAE, SCAJ) attended the conference as well as most of the major coffee importing and exporting companies including Starbucks Coffee Company, a major sponsor of the Taste of Harvest Cupping competition this year. In addition to Starbucks, many smaller roasters and importers were also at the conference. The coffee industry was encouraged to form direct relationships with the roasters who are key players in marketing African coffees to consumers. 

Attendees also had an opportunity to meet with 50 exhibitors (many of whom had elaborately decorated booths) that showcased regional coffee, coffee equipment and ancillary services to the coffee industry.  Exhibitors are expected to sign contracts with a value of US $20 million over the next few months as a direct result of market linkages and contacts made through the conference and exhibition.

During the conference, EAFCA sponsored the first annual Uganda Barista Competition. This event is aimed at promoting domestic consumption of coffee and improving the coffee making skills of local baristas. The winner of the national competition will travel to Sweden for the World Barista Championship in June 2007, sponsored by Brussels Airlines. EAFCA is also sponsoring barista competitions in Kenya, Zambia and South Africa, the newest chapter of EAFCA. EAFCA is focusing marketing efforts on greatly increasing Eastern African coffee exports to the South African market.

EAFCA, as the regional body representing Eastern African coffee producing countries, is the Trade Flow Leader for the region’s fine coffee strategy.  The organization has again achieved a major success, netting around US $250,000 in revenues from the conference registrations as a result of the large turn out. In addition, private companies provided over US $150,000 in sponsorships for social and educational events.  With this income, EAFCA is well on its way to covering its operational expenses for next year. The sixth Annual Fine Coffee Conference and Exhibition will be held in Kigali, Rwanda in February, 2009.