Ethiopian delegates who represented the Spices Sector of the country made a trade mission and exposure visit to Vietnam in December 2018. One of the Southeastern countries of Asia, Vietnam, is known for  being one of a leading countries in Spices and Coffee export market in the world. Throughout the world, the demand for spice products (for use in food processing, medicine and as aromatics) has been growing, creating excellent chances for the spice international market to develop and supply this demand. In Vietnam, spice production plays an important role in the social and economic development of the country. In the last few years, spice products have made a significant contribution to increasing incomes, leading to poverty alleviation for more than thousands of households in some of the poorest communities in the country. Both authorities and communities consider spice products as a primary means to improve the local economy and reduce poverty. By becoming involved in the world market the Vietnamese spice sector has new and favorable economic opportunities for companies, co-operatives and households. Vietnamese pepper has been shipped to more than 100 countries and territories, making up 60 percent of the world’s exports.   

Upon on the invitation of by the Vietnamese Pepper Association (VPA), Ethiopian delegates represented from the private sector, government, farmer unions and the ENTAG program made an official business and exposure visit to some known provinces of Vietnam in Black-Pepper and Turmeric production and processing.

The delegates made an exposure visit to leading Pepper and Turmeric  growing provinces of Vietnam like Daklak  and GialaI.  Some of the best practices visited in the Turmeric and Pepper farms and factories are organic farming and farm management, drip and sprinkle irrigation, drying and slicing machineries, and processing and packing technologies.  

The International Pepper conference – Vietnam Pepper Outlook 2018 – which was organized by Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Vietnam Pepper Association was also part of the mission. The conference highlighted the best practices and challenges of black pepper production, processing and export in Vietnam and at the international level. Participants drawn from the international pepper community took part in the conference, which was held in Ho Chi Minh city on December 4 2018. At the  event, participants shared current challenges facing the international, regional and national (Vietnam) pepper development sector – including regulations in export markets, the usage of pesticides, and expanding business connections – and put forward suggestions for the sector’s sustainable development.