(Feb 14, 2013, ADDIS ABABA)--Ethiopia’s flower exporters are cashing in on Valentine’s Day, as the industry blooms. Many of the roses that lovers give each other on Valentine’s Day happen
to be grown in Ethiopia. In the last decade, the industry has grown from
nothing to one of the dominant players on the international market.
Zelalem Messele, an Ethiopian flower grower and chairman of EHPEA, the
Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association, said Valentine's
Day is very important for the country's flower sector. “It’s one of the holidays the flower industry flourishes. And the
production goes up by 30 to 40 percent and so the demand,” said Messele.
About 85 percent of Ethiopia’s flowers are exported to Europe. Flower exports in 2012 were valued at more than $210 million. This year, the amount is expected to be more than double, at $525 million.
Industry growth and government-provided tax breaks and loans have attracted many foreigners here to set up flower farms in Ethiopia. Of the 90 flower producers in the country, more than half are non-Ethiopians - many of them Dutch. Read more from Voice of America »
Related topics:
ለፍቅረኞች ሁልጊዜም ቀናቸው ነው
የቫላንታይን ቀን በአንዳንዶች ዕይታ
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| A woman harvests roses in a greenhouse at the ET Highland Flora flower farm, just outside Addis Ababa, Ethiopian, February 2008. |
About 85 percent of Ethiopia’s flowers are exported to Europe. Flower exports in 2012 were valued at more than $210 million. This year, the amount is expected to be more than double, at $525 million.
Industry growth and government-provided tax breaks and loans have attracted many foreigners here to set up flower farms in Ethiopia. Of the 90 flower producers in the country, more than half are non-Ethiopians - many of them Dutch. Read more from Voice of America »
Related topics:
ለፍቅረኞች ሁልጊዜም ቀናቸው ነው
የቫላንታይን ቀን በአንዳንዶች ዕይታ
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