The Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) anticipates that enhanced commercial, technical, and investment collaboration between Kenya and France will improve farmer earnings and expand export revenues.
NCE Chief Executive Officer Lisper Ndungu, during her address at the Africa Forward Summit, highlighted France’s significance as a major global consumer market, development partner, and entry point to the broader European specialty coffee market.
She emphasized that Kenyan coffee commands high respect in France due to its quality, traceability, and distinctive taste characteristics, but pointed out considerable unrealized potential for expanded commercial, technical, and investment partnerships between the two nations to enhance farmer incomes, value-added processing, and export expansion.
She indicated that French involvement in Kenya’s coffee sector currently focuses on market access and premium consumer markets, specialty coffee commerce, and development and sustainability initiatives.
The CEO observed that French consumers rank among Europe’s most enthusiastic supporters of specialty and ethically sourced coffee, with Kenyan coffee maintaining a prestigious status in French cafés, roasting establishments, and upscale retail outlets.
Regarding specialty coffee trade, French importers and coffee roasters procure premium Kenyan Arabica varieties, especially AA grades and specialty microlots, fostering demand for traceable and distinctive coffee products.
In terms of development and sustainability assistance, French development agencies and EU-affiliated programs have backed climate resilience programs, sustainable agricultural methods, cooperative enhancement, agricultural financing and rural advancement, and technical knowledge exchange.
Looking ahead, Ndungu recommended that Kenya could consider: establishing a Kenya-France Coffee Partnership Framework, negotiating specific backing for coffee value enhancement through bilateral trade and investment dialogues, promoting collaborative ventures between French coffee roasters and Kenyan processing entities, extending coffee diplomacy via embassies and trade delegations, and establishing Kenya as Africa’s premier specialty coffee center for the European market.
She concluded by stating that France continues to be a vital strategic partner for Kenya’s coffee industry, adding that future collaboration should advance beyond conventional raw material acquisition to joint investments in sustainability, value enhancement, technological advancement, and farmer economic well-being.
‘With enhanced Kenya-France cooperation, the coffee sector has the potential to generate increased export revenue, create rural job opportunities, involve young people in the industry, and elevate Kenya’s international brand presence,’ she stated.