"Leaders Gather at G25 Coffee Summit in Dar es Salaam"

G25 African Coffee Summit Kicks Off in Dar es Salaam Today

The third G25 African Coffee Summit officially opens today in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with seven Heads of State joining key stakeholders from 25 coffee-producing nations across the continent. Hosted by Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the two-day event aims to elevate Africa's coffee production and expand its global market share. It also seeks to create employment opportunities, particularly for youth and women, through the revitalization of the African coffee industry.

The summit, themed "Unlocking Employment Opportunities for the Youth through Regeneration of the African Coffee Industry," is set to bring together leaders from the coffee sector to chart a path forward. As announced by Government Chief Spokesperson Mr. Gerson Msigwa, the summit will foster collaboration among Tanzanian coffee farmers and their peers from other African nations, offering a platform for networking, new market creation, and investment opportunities.

A pivotal feature of the summit is the Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings, where coffee producers, policymakers, traders, manufacturers, and Heads of State will work towards improving the coffee production value chain across Africa. Tanzania contributes significantly to the global coffee market, with a contribution of 240 million USD (approximately 621 billion Tanzanian shillings) to the $500 billion industry. The coffee sector in Africa remains essential for foreign exchange earnings and GDP contributions in many African countries.

However, the sector faces numerous challenges, including low farm-level productivity, limited infrastructure for value addition, and a lack of access to affordable finance. These challenges are further compounded by the effects of climate change. Despite these setbacks, the African coffee sector holds significant potential for growth, especially with the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which can enhance regional trade, boost domestic consumption, and promote greater economic integration.

Today, the summit will kick off with a ministerial session, where African agriculture ministers and coffee industry leaders will discuss strategies to strengthen the sector. Tanzania's Minister for Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, will lead discussions and oversee the presentation of the Dar es Salaam Declaration, a policy document that will shape Africa's coffee growth strategy. This declaration is a continuation of previous declarations made at past G25 summits, including the Nairobi Declaration (2022) and the Kampala Declaration (2023), both of which have contributed to placing coffee as a key strategic commodity within the African Union's Agenda 2063.

The summit will conclude tomorrow with a Heads of State session, which will include speeches from President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Angolan President Joao Manuel Lourenco, and other African leaders. During this session, the Dar es Salaam Declaration will be signed, marking a collective commitment by African nations to improve coffee production and trade. Other summit highlights will include an exhibition tour, showcasing innovations in coffee production, and a press briefing by Minister Bashe and the Inter-African Coffee Organisation (IACO) Secretary-General, Ambassador Solomon Rutega.

One of the summit's critical focal points is youth participation. The coffee industry is facing an aging workforce, with many farmers nearing retirement and a lack of youth engagement. The summit will explore strategies to attract and retain young people in the sector, including solutions to barriers such as limited access to finance, infrastructure, and land tenure issues, as well as addressing gender inequality. The aim is to promote entrepreneurship and innovation, while leveraging technology to ensure the future sustainability of Africa's coffee industry.