Coffee quality inspection and certification centers are expected to be opened in Jimma and Hawassa on April 6 and 11, respectively. According to the Ethiopian Tea and Coffee Authority (ETCA), coffee will be exported directly from the centers.

Addis Fortune, one of the largest English newspapers in Ethiopia, reported that Jimma center would collect coffee produce from Metu, Illubabur, Buno Bedele, Kefa, Sheka, and Benchmaji towns. Produce from Yirgacehefe, Sidama, and Guji would go to Hawassa Center.

ECTA plans to open additional centers in Gimbi and Nekemt towns in the coming Ethiopian year. It is hoped that the centers would save logistics costs by shortening the supply chain of coffee and ease labour.

Ethiopia is working to increase annual coffee export to USD 4.6 billion within 15 years and its global coffee market share to 1.26 metric tons by 2033.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency, Addis Fortune, and Addis Zemen