Rwandan coffee has gained international reputation and a "prestigious profile”, according to an official from Ocir-Café, the country’s coffee authority.

In a statement highlighting the state of affairs of the industry, Robinah Uwera, Ocir Café’s Marketing Manager told Business Times that besides US-based Starbucks, Rwandan coffee has attracted several other prominent companies worldwide.

Some of the entrants include giants like Ataka trading in Japan, schluter in the US, Bewleys limited in Ireland, Sucafina in Switzerland, Supremo in France and Mercanta in England.

Coffee export earnings as of August this year have so far reached $22.4million.

Uwera stressed that local consumption is still low compared to other coffee producing countries.

"We therefore need to increase strategies in coffee promotion, coffee distribution and coffee value addition,” Uwera said.

According to information from Ocir-café, semi-washed coffee prices on the international market saw an upward trend from $1.74 in January 2009 to $2.16 in February.

Between May and July this year, the price rose to $2.4 per kilo. Fully washed coffee was sold at $3.9 a kilogram between May to July.

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