Burundi and ICO discuss market and partnerships opportunities

International Coffee Organization (ICO) Executive Director José Sette has welcomed a visit from Ernest Ndabashinze, Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi, to discuss market and partnership opportunities for Burundi coffee. Kenny Washington, responsible for program innovation and funding at Christian Aid, a United Kingdom-based relief and development agency working on an inclusive coffee market development program in Burundi, also accompanied Ndabashinze in the meeting. Ndabashinze requested the support of the ICO to promote Burundi coffee and to cooperate with Christian Aid on the work of promoting a sustainable production and empowering women in the coffee sector in Burundi. In their exchange, Sette recommended concentrating on the specialty market since Burundi produces high-quality coffee in relatively small amounts. Markets in Asia and the United Kingdom were highlighted as the potential targets for developing their market promotion activity. Gerardo Patacconi, Head of Operations of the ICO, provided insights on linkages with buyers and donors, as well as on the importance of the forthcoming 122nd Council Session of the ICO, to be held in London from 17 to 21 September 2018. The central theme of the meeting will be gender equality, which highlights the contribution of women to the coffee sector. It will be an important opportunity to network and share experiences with other countries, as well as to access innovations on financial tools and donors’ funding for the coffee sector. The ICO is the main intergovernmental organization for coffee, bringing together exporting and importing Governments to tackle the challenges facing the world coffee sector through international cooperation. Its members represent the governments of 98 per cent of the world’s coffee producing countries and 83 per cent of consuming countries. For more information, visit www.ico.org