Over 1,000 stakeholders from across the African continent are expected to attend the first edition of the Africa Coffee and Tea Expo (ACT), taking place at the Kigali Convention Centre from July 7-8.

Under the theme "Africa Brewing for Prosperity”, the expo represents a unique platform to explore high-quality coffee and tea producers from various African countries, including Rwanda. The event aims to foster connections, drive business growth, and highlight the significant contribution of the coffee and tea industries to Africa’s economic development.

Speaking at the briefing breakfast, Francis Twagirayezu, the marketing manager at the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), explained the significance of hosting the first-ever coffee and tea expo, with Rwanda being among the leading exporters of coffee and tea on the continent.

"We always take the opportunity to showcase what Rwanda can offer. That is why any chance to enable exports or producers to interact, in order to scale up value addition to our products as the best producers of coffee and tea worldwide, is welcomed through creating that positive chain on our continent,” he said.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB), Candy Basomingera, reflected on the expected impact on exports and encouraged coffee and tea farmers to attend the expo to showcase their products.

"The expo is expected to host between 800 and 1,000 participants. This expo is not just an exhibition; it’s a strategic platform to foster trade partnerships and promote sustainability in the industry,” Basomingera explained.

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She said that it’s an opportunity for African coffee and tea producers who aren’t fully established to gain global recognition as the home of the world’s best coffee and tea produce.

"I think probably if you ask people where coffee is produced best, they will tell you it’s in Europe or the US, but all the coffee seen there is from Africa. So, it’s important for us to regain that recognition. Through the expo, African producers will market themselves, speaking directly to buyers,” she concluded.

Frank Murangwa, the regional director of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), expressed delight, saying that the first expo in Africa is a huge step for the African continent.

"Coffee and tea production is one of the largest economic drivers globally, which is why we are looking forward to hosting this event in Africa,” Murangwa said.

He concluded that the expectation is to educate people on how to add value to their products, guarantee increased consumption of coffee and tea, and use the sector as an economic driver.