Ethiopia spices

Ethiopia produces a wide range of spices, aromatics, and herbs, including pepper, ginger, turmeric, and chili. The country has strong export potential. When this project began in 2021, the Ethiopian spices sector was still emerging. To enter the European market, companies needed to build international export experience and align with strict food safety standards, such as HACCP certification. The sector also lacked a functioning trade association.

Between 2021 and 2025, 7 Ethiopian spice companies partnered with CBI to build a strong foundation for exports to the European Union (EU) and the Netherlands. The companies focused on upgrading food safety compliance, developing export strategies, and expanding their market knowledge. Alongside this, the partners worked together to relaunch the sector association and build market research expertise within Ethiopian institutions.

The businesses navigated several major challenges during this period. Covid-19 delayed the start of physical activities by over a year. Furthermore, political instability affected the economy, reduced the influx of foreign buyers, and complicated daily operations. Despite these obstacles, the participating companies showed great resilience and successfully moved forward, making significant progress on food safety.

Project results

By the end of the project:

• 7 companies completed the full programme, each developing an Export Marketing Plan (EMP) and a Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) action plan.
• All participating companies deepened their knowledge of EU food safety requirements. 4 of them developed HACCP plans and partnered with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) to upgrade their processing facilities, preparing for formal certification.
• Ethiopia now has a local team of seven Train-the-Trainer (ToT) experts, trained in EU-oriented market research. They cover market intelligence, buyer trends, regulations, and pricing. Together, they developed the first prototype market briefs on pepper, ginger, and turmeric.
• The Ethiopian Spices Sector Association (ESSA) successfully relaunched and professionalised its operations. It now has a functioning board, formal legal documents, a bank account, office space at the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA), and a paying membership base. A CBI project participant serves as the newly elected chairwoman.
• 5 companies exhibited at the Food Ingredients Europe (FI Europe) trade fair in Frankfurt (2023) and Paris (2025), generating substantial interest from European importers.

Securing HACCP certification remains the most important requirement for entering the European market. Because EU buyers require this standard, finalising the formal certification process is the key next step and main priority for the companies moving forward.

What is next

The companies made practical plans, can connect with market contacts, and have a much clearer understanding of what European buyers require. The sector association ESSA is operational and has 2 trained market researchers on its team. Its next step is to secure the minimum funding needed to sustain itself and grow.

GIZ continues its collaboration with some of the participating companies on food safety and social protection, building on the work that started during the CBI project. One participant has also secured a grant from the US-based organisation TechnoServe to support food safety and phytosanitary capacity.

The Ethiopian spice sector is still emerging.  Thanks to a solid foundation built during the project, the companies and the association are now in a great position to successfully compete on European markets

Collaborate with us

For questions or more information about this project or the Ethiopian spice sector, please contact Hugo Verhoeven.

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About CBI

CBI promotes sustainable production and trade between low-and middle-income countries and the Netherlands and Europe. We partner with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their ecosystem to strengthen their social and environmental sustainability.

CBI is part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and commissioned by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.