Representatives of the Government of the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia and senior leaders from Starbucks Coffee Company
today announced that they have completed two days of constructive
discussions and the parties have agreed in principle to sign a
licensing, distribution and marketing agreement that recognizes the
importance and integrity of Ethiopia's specialty coffee names.
This agreement will help to expand their ongoing collaboration to
market and sell Ethiopia's exceptionally high quality coffees.
"Ethiopia is firmly committed to work in partnership with all
international specialty coffee companies and distributors of its fine
coffees, including Harar, Sidamo and Yirgacheffe. We realise our
approach to trademarking and licensing these coffee brands that
originate in and represent the best of Ethiopia's coffee heritage is a
new approach that not only meets the needs of small Ethiopian fine
coffee farmers and traders but also the coffee roasting and
distributing companies and their customers," commented Getachew
Mengistie, EIPO Director General.
"Ethiopia is recognized as the historic birthplace of coffee and
the source of some of the finest coffee in the world," said Howard
Schultz, Starbucks chairman. "We're extremely excited to continue to
deepen our relationship with the Government of Ethiopia."
The Government of Ethiopia and Starbucks Coffee look forward to
formalizing the details of the agreement and signing it in May 2007.
