Marina Sereni, the Italian Deputy Foreign Minister, visits the Ethiopian Coffee Training Centre in Addis Ababa, the first of its kind in East Africa.
Senior officials and guests from the Ministry of Agriculture and other institutions, including Adugna Debela, Director General of the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, were present at the ceremony.
During her visit, the Deputy Foreign Minister said; “this modern coffee training centre, which was built here in the compound of Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, with the support of the Italian government and the United Nations Industrial and Development Organisation (UNIDO) is a sign of strengthening joint development cooperation between the two countries.”
On his part, Adugna stated that the centre will advance the coffee industry by greatly reducing the shortage of competent workers in the area.
According to him, this will increase Ethiopia’s foreign exchange earnings by exporting Value Addition Coffees.
He went on to say that the Authority is collaborating with several universities and research institutes to improve coffee extension and agronomy efforts.
