Addis Ababa, November 25, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Truneh has called on all partners in the country’s coffee, tea, and spice sectors to redouble their efforts to position Ethiopia as the undisputed global leader.
Speaking at the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority’s 2017 E.C. (2024/25) Performance Recognition and Appreciation Ceremony at the Science Museum in Addis Ababa today, Mr. Temesgen emphasized that the government’s “green legacy-driven growth” strategy has been central to transforming the sector and improving the livelihoods of millions of farmers.
He highlighted the sector’s recent achievements, noting that strategic prioritization and collaboration across the value chain have enabled many farmers to rise from hardship to prosperity, with some now recognized as successful entrepreneurs and millionaires.
In the 2017 E.C. budget year, Ethiopia exported a record 470,000 tons of coffee, generating USD 2.65 billion in revenue. For the 2025/26 fiscal year, the government aims to export 600,000 tons of coffee and exceed USD 3 billion in revenue.
Deputy PM Temesgen urged sector partners to act with “urgency, precision, and excellence” to improve quality standards, expand value addition, and enhance Ethiopia’s competitiveness on the global stage.
“The era of Ethiopian coffee commanding its rightful place in the world market has begun,” he said, calling for unity and determination to advance this vision.
For his part, Ethiopia’s Minister of Trade and Regional Integration Kassahun Gofe said the government will continue to strengthen the sector through innovation, research, and global market expansion.
“Coffee has long played a pivotal role in earning foreign exchange for our country. In the 2017 E.C. fiscal year, for the first time, over USD 2.65 billion of the total USD 8.3 billion in exports was generated from coffee,” he said.
Kassahun noted that this achievement reflects the reforms implemented by the government and stakeholders.
“Recognizing coffee exporters and sector contributors will help expand best practices and inspire others to achieve greater results. We will continue to work diligently through institutional coordination to protect national interests, strengthen modern production methods, ensure product quality, and expand global market access,” he added.