The Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) is upbeat that a deeper commercial, technical and investment cooperation between Kenya and France will strengthen farmer incomes and boost export growth.
NCE Chief Executive Officer Lisper Ndungu, in a presentation to the Africa Forward Summit, said France remains an important global consumer market, development partner, and gateway into the wider European speciality coffee ecosystem.
She said Kenya’s coffee is highly regarded in France for its quality, traceability, and unique flavour profile, but noted that there is a significant untapped potential for deeper commercial, technical, and investment cooperation between Kenya and France to strengthen farmer incomes, value addition, and export growth.
She noted that currently the French role in Kenya’s coffee sector is in areas of market access and premium consumption, speciality coffee trade, development and sustainability support.
The CEO noted that French consumers are among Europe’s strongest supporters of speciality and sustainably sourced coffee and that Kenyan coffee enjoys a premium reputation in French cafés, roasteries, and gourmet retail channels. On Speciality Coffee Trade, French importers and roasters purchase high-quality Kenyan Arabica coffees, particularly AA and speciality microlots, supporting demand for traceable and differentiated coffees.
On Development and Sustainability Support, French development agencies and EU-linked programs have supported Climate resilience initiatives, Sustainable farming practices, Cooperative strengthening and Agricultural financing and rural development and Technical Expertise.
As a way forward, Ndungu proposed that Kenya may consider: Establishing a Kenya–France Coffee Partnership Framework, negotiating targeted support for coffee value addition under bilateral trade and investment discussions, encouraging joint ventures between French roasters and Kenyan processors, expanding coffee diplomacy through embassies and trade missions and positioning Kenya as Africa’s leading speciality coffee hub for Europe.
She concluded by noting that France remains an important strategic partner for Kenya’s coffee sector, adding that future cooperation should move beyond traditional commodity purchasing toward shared investment in sustainability, value addition, technology, and farmer prosperity.
"With stronger Kenya–France collaboration, the coffee sector can become a greater source of export earnings, rural employment, youth participation, and global brand recognition for Kenya,'' she said.
