Uganda To Promote Its Coffee In Guangzhou As China Celebrates First-Ever Uganda Coffee Day
By Uganda Online Media
Kampala: Uganda’s Consulate in Guangzhou together with the embassy in Beijing and the Uganda Coffee Development Authority have organized the first Uganda Coffee day to be held in Guangzhou, China
According to the ministry of foreign affairs, the function that takes place today, March 17 at one of the largest coffee markets in Southern China of Guangzhou Jinda Coffee and Beverages will feature cupping and tasting of the latest harvest of coffee samples of both Robusta and Arabica coffee.
The coffee tasting will be held in Guangzhou and Kampala organized by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority.
“The main objective of this event is to promote the unique quality of Uganda Coffee in China, create partnerships for the importation of Uganda coffee into China and attract investments in value addition in Uganda’s coffee sector,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
According to the ministry the move is meant to attract key players in the Ugandan and Chinese coffee sector including importers, exporters, traders, roasters, dealers in coffee machinery and related equipment, media, relevant government departments.
The Uganda Coffee Day is one of the activities to be held in commemoration of 60 years of Uganda- China relations.
The commemoration is to be held under the theme “ 60 years of strategic friendship and cooperation between Uganda and China towards a shared future in a new era”.
Coffee is one of Uganda’s priority commodities and contributes on average 30 percent to the national economy.
Uganda is the leading coffee exporting country in Africa after Ethiopia well known for its production of Robusta coffee with at least 80% of the entire production and 20% is Arabica coffee.
Whereas Europe at 61% remains the biggest market for Uganda’s coffee, China has of late been a target market for the East African country.
This is due to the fact that coffee consumption in China is growing rapidly at an average annual rate of 20%.
Although China grows its own coffee in Yunnan province, most consumers prefer to buy from foreign coffee brands.
To this, China currently imports most of its coffee from a few sources in Asia, with Vietnam accounting for over 49% of coffee imports, Indonesia 14%) and Malaysia (7%).
This growing demand for foreign origin coffee, especially for unique coffee blends only available outside of Asia
