Specialized museum to support Ethiopia’s coffee branding efforts

The coffee museum being built in Bonga area in South Ethiopia Peoples’ regional state, 463km from the capital Addis Ababa will help Ethiopia’s efforts in branding its coffee.

Having a museum that promotes the country’s fine coffees to the rest of the world will indeed be an asset, said Dr Hassen Said, archeologist and head of the ethnographic museum at Addis Ababa University, who has been in the project since its inception.

The nation in general and the locality in particular will benefit from tourists who wish to visit the area, since visitors will have the opportunity to find all types of coffee beans grow in the country at one place.

Some of the world’s finest coffees, such as Harrar, Sidamo and Yirgacheffee, the three famous trademarks of Ethiopia’s finest coffees, originate here.

Former President Girma Woldegiorgis laid the cornerstone for the museum in June 2007 following decisions that recognize the need for a specialized museum for coffee to exhibit coffee beans grow in every corner of the country.

Flow of tourists to the area is expected to be increased following th completion of the museum which will incorporate a research center, he said.

Africa’s leading coffee producer has been undertaking various activities to increase the revenue it earns from coffee trade.

Coffee, which originated in Ethiopia, is the largest foreign exchange earner. It generated about 24 percent of the total foreign currency of the country.

The country has secured 4 billon USD revenue during the past five years from coffee trade.

The nation enjoys a strong reputation for its heritage coffees which command a very high retail price in the international market, however, the retail price actually goes back to Ethiopia is low, most of the profit is shared by distributors and middlemen in the marketing sector.

The nation has been engaged in branding and trade-marking its fine coffees to change this fact.

 “Despite the fact that Ethiopia is the country to introduce coffee to the rest of the world, the people that introduce coffee to the world, do not benefit as expected so far”, Hassen said.     

The museum consists of a coffee research center, permanent and temporary exhibition areas, and displays that promote cultural coffee ceremonies.

The coffee park that brings all types of coffee beans from every part of the country is expected to attract tourists and researchers from around the globe.

“Though the museum doesn’t open for visitors, tourist flow to the area has increased significantly. So it will become additional tourist destination and is expected to increase tourist flow to the country.”

Mamitu Yilma Director of the Ethiopian National Museum agreed that the museum provides good opportunity for visitor.

“It is impossible to visit all coffee growers in Ethiopia at a time. So the Bonga national coffee museum believed to provide an opportunity for visitors and coffee researchers find all in one center.”

The tourists can witness coffee’s close ties with the culture and societies of Ethiopia through the traditional coffee ceremonies at the museum.

Infrastructure development including roads and hotels are being underway with the aim of creating conducive environment for tourists.

Erecting the building on 2,826sqm has already completed and furnishing the 32 million Birr museum is underway.