Spices Ethiopia

Ethiopia's diverse environment and climate provide excellent growing conditions for a wide range of (indigenous) spices. Here, the natural growing of spices is a common practice. Combined with organic farming, this provides excellent quality spices. 

Ethiopia can become the destination for high-quality, full-flavoured, food-safe, aromatic spices. In this project, the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) helps Ethiopian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) explore their potential for market positioning. The project aims to create a respected and consumer-driven spices sector. It also helps the sector to benefit from European Union (EU) market developments, such as the Green Deal.

Project goals 

With this project, we aim to support the transition to a high-quality and inclusive Ethiopian spices sector. We do this through: 

Export capacity building

We help 8 selected spice-processing and -exporting companies develop export capacity for the EU market. We support them on supply chain management, EU market access requirements, value addition, export strategies, export marketing skills and knowledge, export promotion and branding. We also help them open up export markets in the EU, UK and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). 

Sustainability (certification and CSR) 

We help SMEs to formalise existing sustainable practices with relevant certifications, such as organic certifications. Besides environmental sustainability, we pay attention to improving labour conditions and social compliance. This includes the position of women in the Ethiopian spices sector.

Institutional capacity building and sector collaboration 

We support the establishment of sector collaboration structures. This helps the sector to tackle issues that need a collective approach. Also, we support selected public and private service providers. We help them to provide the quality services that spices exporters need to succeed in the European markets. 

Project participants and products

9 companies in the spices sector are participating in this export coaching project.

Five of these suppliers will participate at Fi Europe in Frankfurt on 28-30 November 2023. Contact CBI to find out more about these companies or contact these exporters directly. 

Partners

• Ethiopian Spices, Aromatics, Herbs Growers and Processors Association (ESAHGPA); 
• Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations;
• Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA);
• Centre for Accelerated Women's Economic Empowerment (CAWEE);
• Tepi Agricultural Research Centre;
• Agribusiness Africa Academy (AAA);
• TradEthiopia.

Activities 

• The participants and our partners carry out a sectoral export marketing plan (SEMP). This activity improves sector collaboration and should result in a strategic export plan for the Ethiopian spices sector;
• (Online) training activities, including a market orientation mission to Germany in 2022. Also, workshops on export marketing, EU market access requirements (including food safety and HACCP), and CSR (including gender) are organised; 
• (Online) coaching by CBI sector experts;
• Help with formalising SMEs' sustainable practices through relevant certifications, such as organic certifications;
• Networking and participation in European trade fairs, such as Fi Europe in Frankfurt, Germany from 28-30 November 2023; 
• Capacity building of selected business support organisations in the spices sector. This involves helping them strengthen their service level. 

Get involved as an importer

Are you a European importer interested in sustainable and high-quality spices from companies in Ethiopia? Contact CBI to get more information or to meet with suppliers in this project being trained to export to Europe.