Addis Ababa, January 5, 2024 (FBC) – The Ethiopian Ambassador to China, Teferra Derbew, delivered an erudite address today highlighting the history and significance of Ethiopian coffee to the world at “The China (Pu’er) International Coffee Expo” in the Yunnan province’s Pu’er city.
The Expo is being held under the theme “Pu’er Coffee, Shared Worldwide”.
In his remarks, the envoy elucidated that Ethiopia stands as the progenitor of coffee. Furthermore, he expounded upon the pivotal importance of the expo in propagating the renown of Ethiopian coffee on a global scale.
Ambassador Teferra emphasized that coffee is an integral part of Ethiopia’s social fabric, deeply ingrained in the identity of its people. He further stated that any visitor to Ethiopia would undoubtedly experience the profound coffee culture that permeates the country. Additionally, he described coffee as a bridge that connects nations, transcending borders and races, and bringing people closer in our global village.
Through cultural exchanges facilitated by coffee, he highlighted the promotion of integration and development of diverse cultures worldwide.
Ambassador Teferra highlighted Ethiopia’s role as a significant coffee producer, contributing about 3% of the world’s coffee supply and ranking as Africa’s leading coffee producer and the fifth-largest globally. He noted the recent surge in China’s coffee market, identifying China as the largest importer of Ethiopian coffee presently.