Rwanda to host the 19th AFCA conference and exhibitions

Rwanda will host the 19th African Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition (AFCC&E) from February 15th to 17th, 2023 at the Kigali Convention Center in Kigali, Rwanda.

The National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) and the African Coffee Association (AFCA) during the AFCC&E launch ceremony held at Kigali. Rwanda will host the event at the third time, following 2009 and 2019.

The annual African coffee dialogue and business platform will be held this year under the theme “Shared value for Sustainability in the African Coffee Industry” bring together over 1000 participants from all coffee value chain players globally ranging from the smallholder and large scale coffee producers, processors, traders, government, NGOs to regional and international coffee exporters and Roasters among others to discuss about sustainable coffee business amidst the calls for a better living income for the producers as well as impacts of climate change on production and productivity.

Making a comeback after a two-year break since the COVID-19 pandemic, this conference will give a good opportunity to Rwanda to showcase its unique coffee profiles that are world-renowned for their specialty quality on one hand and a platform for the coffee-producing countries in Africa to display their premium coffees to world.

Talking about the importance of holding the AFCC&E in Rwanda, NAEB CEO Claude Bizimana stated: “Coffee continues to play an important part in Africa’s economy. It impacts positively the lives of hundreds of thousands of small producers and their families in Rwanda, in particular. It has made a significant contribution to foreign exchange revenues and the monetisation of the rural economy. Because of the efforts of these small-holder farmers, the quality of our coffee is now recognized globally. Bringing this event to Rwanda honors their work and reminds them that they are crucial to Rwanda’s coffee success story.”

“We congratulate the Rwandan Government, the Rwandan AFCA Chapter, and the leadership of NAEB for organising such a successful launch, and on behalf of AFCA, promise a strong collaboration as we organise the 19^th AFCC&E due in February 2022.” Said Mr. Amir Hamza, Chairman of the board of the Africa Fine Coffees Association

African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) is a regional coffee association with its Headquarters in Kampala, Uganda. Membership represents countries from Burundi, Cameroon, DR. Congo,

Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Membership consists of private and public sectors specialty coffee stakeholders including producers, exporters, importers, roasters, policymakers, transporters, trade representatives, and others.

National Agricultural Export Development Board, abbreviated as “NAEB” is a commercial public institution established by law No 13/2017 of 14/04/2017 in the framework of regulating and promoting the development and growth of Agriculture and Livestock export commodities in Rwanda, as well as marketing them worldwide.