Ethiopia seeks fresh flower markets

Ethiopia is seeking new buyers for its fresh flowers, as demand from its main market in the Netherlands slumps. The Netherlands imports over 50% of Ethiopia's flowers but has cut its imports due to a drop in demand.

25 Mar 2009

Ethiopia is now looking at markets for its flowers in Dubai, Asia, Scandinavia, Russia and the US. Flower exports are becoming the main foreign exchange earner in Ethiopia after coffee. Flower exports are expected to be worth one billion US dollars within five years. The industry offers employment to thousands of people, most of them women.

Source: Panos London