31/10/2025
The East African Coffee Market and Conference, held Oct 28–30 at the Oshwal Center in Nairobi under the theme “Sustainable Growth and Sustainable Market Access,” was a profound success.
We didn’t just discuss trade; we architected a breakthrough. We brought East African cooperatives and regional producers face-to-face with global buyers, shattering old barriers and securing new market access that promises tangible benefits for farmers.
I would like to thank all the Ugandan participants NARO/NaCORI, Rwenzori Geographical Indications Association, URSB, OWC, WIPO and all Ugandan delegates.
But the story doesn't end there. Our collective EAC coffee trade volume currently sits at approximately $4 billion USD.
Contrast that with Vietnam’s $8.2 billion last year, or Brazil’s dominance, and the path ahead is clear: we must significantly pull up our socks! There might never be a third world war but the trade war is upon us.
Therefore, let our governments and major stakeholders put our best soldiers on the frontlines because for many of us, coffee is not just a commodity—it’s the backbone of millions of livelihoods.
So i believe that the next step is communicating current successes to every farmer and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Asante sana.
