Author | Huaxin
On the morning of July 8, the Secretariat of the China Flower Association was invited to hold a video conference with the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in China to exchange views for the first time on promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between the flower industries of China and Egypt. Present at the meeting were Dawano Kedir, Deputy Ambassador of Ethiopia to China (Deputy Director and Economic Affairs), Minister in Charge of Trade and Tourism, Minister Muntaha Jemal, Second Secretary Yisak, Commercial Commissioner Ren Bibo, Secretary General of the China Flower Association Zhang Yingchao, Director of the Liaison Department Kong Haiyan, Editor-in-Chief of China Flower and Horticulture Magazine Bai Yanfeng, and Assistant President Shang Yunqing.
▲The scene of the China Flower Association
▲Video conferencing communication
After fully exchanging information on the flower industry and flower industry associations of the two countries, China and Egypt agreed that Ethiopia, as the second largest flower producer in Africa, has good flower product quality, continuous improvement of air transportation conditions, huge potential for China's flower consumption market, and broad prospects for cooperation between the flower industries of China and Egypt. In the future, we will further strengthen exchanges, explore the possibility of cooperating in holding the China-Egypt Flower Forum, organizing Chinese flower enterprises to visit Egypt, and participating in important exhibitions such as the 2022 China International Flower and Horticultural Exhibition sponsored by the China Flower Association, the 2024 Chengdu World Horticultural Exposition, and the 11th China Flower Expo in 2025, so as to jointly promote flower trade and exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
▲Ethiopian flower production scene + map
Ethiopia's flower industry has only 18 years of history, and flower exports in 2021 will exceed 212 million US dollars, accounting for more than 80% of the total foreign exchange revenue of the national horticultural industry. At present, 80% of the products are exported to the Netherlands, and other export markets include France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and other EU countries and countries in the Middle East. Roses are the most widely grown varieties of cut flowers in Ethiopia, with stars, hypericum, forget-me-nots, chrysanthemums, carnations and more. The Ethiopian Horticultural Producers Exporters Association (EHPEA) is made up of more than 120 members of enterprises engaged in the production and export of cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs, seedlings and vegetable seeds. Ethiopia currently has five routes to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Chengdu in China, and the shipping conditions are improving day by day. At present, most of Ethiopia's cut flowers are first exported to Europe, and then sold to China by European enterprises, if the direct trade between the two countries can be strengthened, it will greatly reduce costs and further promote the development of the flower industry on both sides.