Booming export trade in horticultural products earns more foreign currency and has immense economic advantage to the country. Taking this fact into consideration, the government of Ethiopia has given due attention for the growth of the horticulture industry.

Last Ethiopian budget year, the country generated 250 million USD form the export of flower, fruit, vegetable and herbs. Of the total export, 40 million USD was obtained from the export of 93 thousand tons of fruits and vegetables.  This is, in fact, a huge amount of foreign currency that the country ever secured from the sector.

Since the government is committed to develop the horticulture industry, various incentives and necessary supports have been provided to local and foreign investors engage in the sector. As a result, every year remarkable growths have been registered in the sector. For instance, in the current budget year, the country secured 112 million USD with in only a period of six months and the secured amount has exceeded by 25 million USD compared to the same period last year.

2012 is a year that Ethiopia has started to export organic banana to the international market.  The country, for the first time, has exported 40 tons of organic bananas by sea to Saudi Arabia. Since the product has a high demand in the international market, foreign companies have shown interest to market the product. Hence, agreement has recently been made with a foreign company and preparations are well underway to export 200 tons of organic bananas to Jidda market on weekly basis.