Ethiopian Flower Penetrates the American Market
By; Tsehaye Debalkew, Embassy of Ethiopia, Washington DC.
March 12, 2012
Ethiopia has brought over four tons of Hypercom flowers into the US recently which is only a tip of the iceberg in its bid for continued expansion by bringing in more varieties and types of cut-flowers enabling it to be a significant actress in the provision of this unique product into the vast American market.
The foregoing statement was made by Ambassador Girma Birru, Special Envoy and Ambassador Extra-ordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, to the US and non-resident envoy to Mexico in a keynote address he made at the Ethiopian Flower Showcase reception held at the Chancery of the Ethiopian Embassy on Saturday March 10, 2012.
Addressing a packed audience of participants in the event representing government officials of the two countries, exporters from Ethiopia, American importers and other invited guests, Ambassador Girma said that Ethiopia which was not to be found in the list of world flower producing and exporting nations only a few years back, " thanks to the all-round effort of the government, Ethiopia now ranks in the top stratum of growers and exporters as Africa's second flower exporter", he revealed. 
The Special Envoy recalled that the traditional destination for Ethiopian horticulture export has been largely Europe and due to the collaborative effort of the Embassy, the Metropolitan Airports Authority of the US, Ethiopian Airlines, the Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency and the Association of Flower Producers and Exporters of Ethiopia he underlined have been instrumental in this pioneer penetration of the product to the US market.
Ambassador Girma praised those who made the enterprise to take shape and expressed his undaunted hope that the event will help create awareness about the huge potential for cut-flower exports from Ethiopia to the US as well as spur networking opportunities for American flower importers and exporters from the home front.
Alluding to the envisioned plan in the sector the Special Envoy exuded his satisfaction by noting that Ethiopia envisages increasing its annual flower export revenue to over Five Hundred US Dollars by the year 2015.
Mr. John Potter, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Air Ports Authority /MWAA/ on his part made a solemn pledge for the provision of all support by the US government for the effort by the Ethiopian government to make the presence of Ethiopian Flower quite viable in the wide American market.
Mr. Haileselassie Tekie, Director General of the Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency and Mr. Tsegaye Abebe, Chairman of the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association also made remarks pertaining to the tireless effort their respective institutions have made to expand the flower industry with the impact it entails to all parties and the contribution it has towards the national economy.
The flower business which has become a beacon of hope and huge export earner for Ethiopia, it was learnt, will be show cased in an International Floral Exhibition in New York next week.
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