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 7 selected spice-processing and exporting companies develop their export capacity for the EU market. We support them in supply chain management, EU market access requirements, including food safety/HACCP, 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). 

Institutional capacity building and sector collaboration 

We support selected public and private service providers such as ESSA, the Ethiopian Spice Sector Association. We help them strengthen their organisation and provide the quality services that spice exporters need to succeed in the European market. 

Project participants and products

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

Five of these suppliers will participate in Fi Europe, held in Paris, France, from 2-4 December 2025. Contact CBI to learn more about these companies or contact them directly. 

Partners

• Ethiopian Spice Sector Association (ESSA);
• 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;
• TradEthiopia;
• GiZ.

Activities 

• The participants and our partners have carried 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. Additionally, 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 SMEs comply with EU food safety requirements and apply the required food safety standards, such as HACCP;
• Networking and participation in European trade fairs, such as Fi Europe in Frankfurt, Germany, from 28-30 November 2023 and FI Europe in Paris, France, from 2-4 December 2025;
• Capacity building of selected business support organisations in the spices sector, such as the Ethiopian Spice Sector Association. 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.