ECT, Illycaffè join hands to strengthen the Ethiopian coffee value chain

Addis Ababa, September 1, 2023 (FBC) The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority and Illycaffè, the first Italian coffee company to obtain the B-Corp certification, have signed an agreement that aims to increase coffee quality from the plant to the cup, through training activities that will mainly be held in the Coffee Training Center in Addis Ababa.

The training center is said to be the first of its kind on the entire African continent created in partnership between the Italian Agency for the Development of Cooperation (AICS), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Illycaffè, the Ernesto Illy Foundation, and the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority.

It aims to meet international quality coffee export standards and promote the training of competent operators who create value in this sector for the country.

“Ethiopia is not only the land of origin for coffee but also the potential for new flavors is limitless. This unique flavor and very high-quality nature of our coffee is widely known around the globe. So, the commitment and collaboration we made with illycaffè will strengthen our stand in the international market,” commented Adugna Debela, General Director of Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority.

“Ethiopian coffee is considered to be the best Arabica coffee in the world. Our challenge is to enhance the offer and services of the supply chain, contributing to local economic development through the public-private partnership with the Ethiopian Coffee Tea Authority,” explains Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè.

“We want to create synergies to increase quality and therefore the sustainability of coffee communities. We will act on training that will allow small producers to increase their coffee production capacity and therefore their earnings and exporters and baristas to work with an even higher quality product,” she added.