This archive report was first published on 18 July 2021.
On July 14, 2021, a four-day Coffee Expo kicked off in Seoul, South Korea, where Kenya was the guest country. The event aimed to enhance direct sales and marketing of Kenyan coffee, positioning it as unique and of high quality.
During the expo, a number of farmers drawn from several coffee cooperatives met and interacted directly with South Korean importers. The event was organized by the Coffee Directorate and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Enterprise Development.
Industrialisation, Trade and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina led the Kenyan delegation to the expo. She stated that Kenya's coffee exports to South Korea have been increasing, attributed to the mutual engagement between the Kenyan Embassy and Coffee Expo in Seoul.
Ms. Maina emphasized the need to champion for branding of Kenyan coffee to eliminate middlemen who interfere with the origin of coffee, affecting the quality of the product. She assured the Korean business community that Kenya was an ideal investment destination and committed to enhancing trade relations with South Korea.
Kenyan Ambassador to South Korea Mwende Mwinzi stated that the expo aimed to create a direct networking link between Kenyan farmers and international coffee buyers. This would enable farmers to boost their earnings by dealing directly with importers, eliminating middlemen who compromise the quality of the produce.
During the expo, buyers interacted with the coffee producers to build trust, translating to more money for the farmers as they get to know where to sell their produce.
