RWANDA STARTS EXPORTING ROASTED COFFEE TO USA

For the first time in history of coffee trading in Rwanda, a ten tonnes (10Tonnes) consignment of roasted coffee was on April 27, 2018 shipped from Rwanda to the United States of America (USA). The shipment is valued at U$77,000 (RWF 66,177,000).

This is the first batch of a five-year coffee business agreement partnership signed in February 2018 between Rwanda Farmers Coffee Company (RFCC) and the Global Food of USA, facilitated by National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB). The partnership was developed to support the BEYOND FAIR-TRADE business model of RFCC whereby farmers share in the value of each sales of Roasted coffee.

This shipment of 10 Tonnes, had it been in raw form as green coffee, its value would be US$42,000 (RWF 35,000,000).

The business partnership between Global Food and RFCC was negotiated since 2016 where the agreements include establishment of Global Food operational offices in Kigali and supply of over 36 tonnes of roasted coffee to USA. The deal of supplying roasted coffee in 2018 is estimated at U$ 306,000 (RWF 246,240,000) and is expected to grow in following years. The partnership will not only increase foreign earnings for Rwanda but it will also to large extent support 5,452 coffee farmers (36% of which are women) and their families from 6 cooperatives in the country in the quest to improve their economic and social welfare.

Eric Rukwaya, the Sales and Marketing Manager at RFCC said that other significant trade volumes of roasted coffee by the RFCC were recorded in 2015 whereby seven tonnes (7Tonnes) were shipped to United Kingdom. During last year (2017), four and half tonnes (4.5 Tonnes) worth US$36,000 were sold to different international markets including German, South Korea, etc. “This year, we plan to Export a total of 40 tonnes expected to generate a total of US$ 320,000 (RWF 273,600,000).” Mr Rukwaya reveals.

Currently, through this BEYOND FAIR TRADE business model, two cooperatives supplying “Green coffee beans” to RFCC have been funded for two projects of around 10 Million Rwf: (1) Wastewater treatment from coffee washing station in Sholi coffee cooperative of Muhanga District and (2) supply of clean water to cooperative members in Musasa and CWS, Gakenke District.

By sourcing, processing, packing and direct marketing this high end specialty coffee from Rwanda to USA markets, Global Food, USA pledged to significantly raise the profile and brand of Rwanda coffee to coffee lovers in the USA and to the rest of the world.

Eric Rukwaya added that that with the acquired support of the Export Growth Facility (EGF) of the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) enabling export, Rwanda Farmers Coffee Company will continue to grow its Export market of roasted coffee.

Rwanda farmers Coffee Company is State of the Art- Coffee roasting facility located in Kigali –Rwanda with a mission to provide world class, sublimely rich coffee/ Best of RWANDA and retain a value from the coffee chain for farmers' livelihood improvement & Rwanda Coffee sector development in partnership with the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB).

For more details, please contact Mr. Eric Rukwaya, the Sales and Marketing Manager via +250 788612131 and info@gorillascoffee.com or visit them at www.gorillascoffee.com

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