The Specialty Coffee Association of Japan (SCAJ), a group that raises awareness and deepens understanding of coffee among consumers and growers is ‘very’ keen on Rwandan coffee and its members plan to visit the country next year to explore opportunities. According to Robinah Uwera, an official in charge of international coffee marketing at the National Agriculture Export Board (NAEB), the interest was noted last week when NAEB officials participated in an exhibition attended by over 6,000 Japanese and organised by SCAJ, , in Tokyo, Japan.
The Specialty Coffee Association of Japan (SCAJ), a group that raises awareness and deepens understanding of coffee among consumers and growers is ‘very’ keen on Rwandan coffee and its members plan to visit the country next year to explore opportunities.
According to Robinah Uwera, an official in charge of international coffee marketing at the National Agriculture Export Board (NAEB), the interest was noted last week when NAEB officials participated in an exhibition attended by over 6,000 Japanese and organised by SCAJ, , in Tokyo, Japan.
Uwera noted that 2,400 Japanese attended coffee cupping (coffee tasting) sessions and, "liked Rwandan coffee very much. Many promised to visit Rwanda to look at our coffee, and other products.”
She noted that after showing interest, NAEB invited three successive groups of over 20 SCAJ members, each, who are likely to travel to Rwanda, next May.
"We suggested May because it is the time when our farmers and exporters are most busy,” said Uwera.
She told The New Times that since April, to date, three and a half containers, each containing 19 tonnes of coffee, have been exported to Japan.
On Wednesday this week, a day after presenting his letter of credence to the Emperor of Japan, His Majesty Akihito, Rwanda’s envoy to the Asian nation, Dr. Charles Murigande told The New Times that Japan is one of the most important development partners, underscoring its huge potential in contribute to Rwanda's economic development.
Japan has provided support to Rwanda in various sectors including human resources development - rehabilitation, equipment and training of trainers of the Japanese funded Tumba College of Technology, and in-service training of mathematics and sciences teachers.
Murigande said: "We also sell coffee to Japan and there are a lot of tourists from Japan visiting Rwanda. There is, certainly, still a huge potential for Japan to contribute to Rwanda's economic development since this country is the third largest economy in world and one of the most technologically advanced countries.”
Ends