Starbucks strikes Ethiopia deal

I have been following this situation since Ethiopia first announced their intentions to trademark their coffee beans and, together with Oxfam, lobby Starbucks to pay more for their Ethiopian supply of Coffee beans. The new rates would see millions of dollars in additional coffee-trade revenue go back to the poverty-stricken country and its farmers.

Controversy ensued as, by Oxfam claim, Starbucks fought tooth and nail to prevent this from happening.

However, it seems the story is coming to a happy ending, as per this article on BBC World.

The ‘Origin of Coffee’:
On a side note, Yemen would kindly dispute Ethiopia’s claim for being the “Origin of Coffee Cultivation”, holding profusely to bragging rights in being the first country to commercialize and export coffee through Yemen’s Red-Sea port of the city of “Mocha”, where the bean adopted the name of the port as it traveled to Europe, South America, and East Asia.

Regardless, both nations are sitting on a wealth of high grade beans that, if utilized properly, can propel their GDPs and place them as a serious competitor to current dominant suppliers such as Brazil. Sadly, both countries are stifled by local indifference and poor agricultural training, among other capacity-related problems.

With government reforms on way in Yemen, opportunities will become available for affluent strategic investors to enter this virgin market and set up a world class operation utilizing the affordable labor, fertile ground, bean reputation, and freindly foregin investment regulations.