The Ethiopian flower export market is set to earn $280 million (£196m) in 2009, despite the country’s current desperate search for new business.
Following a cut in business from its main importer, the Netherlands, due to a tightening in the market, the country is seeking new buyers for fresh flowers.
Tsegaye Abebe, head of the Ethiopian Horticulture Development Association, told journalists the country is seeking new flower markets in Dubai, Asia, Scandinavia, Russia and the US, fearing the recession in Europe will affect its flower exports.
The Netherlands imports more than 50 per cent of Ethiopia’s flower exports and the industry is fast becoming the main foreign earner in Ethiopia, expected to overtake coffee. It could be worth $1 billion annually within five years.
Ethiopia earned $178m last year from the sale of 1.5bn stems and is responsible for more than 100,000 of the country’s jobs.
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