As Africa’s coffee production rises to claim 14% of the global market, industry leaders are intensifying calls for the continent to move beyond exporting raw beans toward greater local processing, regenerative farming practices, and unified sustainability standards that enhance farmer livelihoods and meet stringent international regulations.

The push gained momentum at the 7th Rainforest Alliance African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) Sustainability Day in Addis Ababa, themed “Sustainability in Every Cup: Brewing a Regenerative Future Today.” The event spotlighted the transition from conventional “sustainable” coffee production to regenerative agriculture that actively restores ecosystems, improves soil health, and bolsters resilience for smallholder farmers — who produce over 70% of the world’s coffee.

AFCA Board Chairman Amir Hamza opened the forum with a pointed anecdote from a local coffee shop: “Give me a cup of coffee that won’t hurt anyone.” He argued that markets must evolve beyond the minimalist “do no harm” mindset toward proactive regeneration.

“The future of our industry depends on ethical production and environmental stewardship,” Hamza said. A centerpiece of the day was the unveiling of the Rainforest Alliance Regenerative Agriculture Standard (RAS), a new certification framework tailored to help smallholder cooperatives adopt practices focused on soil regeneration, water management, and biodiversity.

“This is an existential strategy to combat climate change while building resilient livelihoods,” Hamza emphasized. Organizers measured the event’s success through commitments to implementation roadmaps for cooperatives, public-private coordination, and positioning sustainability as a trade enabler rather than a barrier.

The gathering also marked the launch of the Integrated African Coffee Sustainability Standard, developed by the Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO) in partnership with the African Union. IACO Secretary-General Solomon Rutega described it as a continent-wide tool to help African producers comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which imposes strict traceability and deforestation-free requirements on coffee imports starting later this year.

“As the birthplace of coffee, Africa bears a special responsibility,” Rutega said. “This standard equips our countries to meet global demands while protecting our farmers and ecosystems.”

Hannelore Beerlandt, Head of Operations at the International Coffee Organization (ICO) Secretariat, echoed the urgency of scaling solutions. She called for blending regenerative agriculture with technology to attract youth to the sector, mitigate farmers’ financial risks, and ensure long-term viability amid climate pressures.

Africa’s growing production share — led by Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania — positions the continent as a “giant in the field,” yet persistent challenges undermine its economic gains. Most coffee leaves as unprocessed green beans, capturing minimal value while exposing farmers to volatile commodity prices.

Leaders at the forum renewed demands for investment in local roasting, branding, and specialty processing to retain more revenue domestically. The RAS and IACO standards aim to make African coffee not just compliant, but premium — appealing to eco-conscious global buyers willing to pay more for verified regenerative origins.

Ethiopia, as the world’s coffee birthplace and a top producer, stands at the forefront. The event underscored the need for coordinated action: government support for cooperatives, private sector innovation in traceability tech, and farmer training to adopt regenerative methods without sacrificing yields.

With EUDR deadlines looming and climate threats mounting, Africa’s coffee sector faces a pivotal moment. The Addis Ababa forum signals a unified strategy: leverage rising output for higher value, not just volume, ensuring sustainability strengthens — rather than stifles — the continent’s role as a global coffee powerhouse.

HST, a leading career services provider, has unveiled the Accounting Technician Training Program (ATTP), a hands-on initiative designed to equip Ethiopia’s young professionals with practical financial skills aligned with international standards.

The program, launched in a ceremony attended by industry leaders and government partners, marks a significant step toward bridging the gap between theoretical education and real-world accounting demands in Ethiopia’s evolving financial sector.

HST Chairman and CEO Solomon Gizaw emphasized that while university degrees provide foundational knowledge, they often fall short in delivering the practical experience needed amid rapid economic changes.

“Accounting and finance are the backbone of any organization,” Solomon said. “Without strong financial management, even the best strategies can fail. Many bright young people lack access to hands-on training. Our program is action-based, ensuring entrants to the profession have not only knowledge but also ethics and the ability to serve faithfully.”

Developed over six years at a cost of tens of millions of birr, ATTP is accessible to high school graduates, technical and vocational trainees, and career switchers — no university degree required. This inclusivity aims to democratize access to finance careers across Ethiopia.

A key partnership with FSD Ethiopia strengthens the program’s reach and relevance. FSD CEO Hikmet Abdella noted that “people, institutions, and markets work effectively when they have the knowledge and skills to make sound financial decisions.”

She highlighted ATTP’s alignment with the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) and the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, positioning it as a tool to build capacity for Ethiopia’s growing capital markets and broader economic inclusion.

The curriculum mirrors the internationally recognized Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) standards, making graduates competitive both locally and abroad. Online delivery extends quality training to youth beyond Addis Ababa, overcoming geographic barriers.

With 75% of banking and insurance jobs requiring basic financial literacy, HST expects the program to boost organizational performance immediately. It also addresses Ethiopia’s priority of tax compliance: better-trained accountants will enhance revenue collection, strengthen public trust, and reduce evasion.

Solomon called for collaboration among government agencies, financial institutions, and civil society to scale the program. “We’re not just talking about training — it’s about connecting people to opportunity,” he said.

As Ethiopia navigates economic reforms and capital market development, ATTP positions the country to build a robust cadre of skilled financial professionals ready for the challenges ahead.

Allied Gold Corporation (AGC) is nearing the completion of its transition into a subsidiary of the Chinese mining group Zijin Gold. The company has confirmed that the operational schedule for its project in Ethiopia will remain unaffected by this acquisition.

AGC, a Canadian firm listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, has signed a definitive agreement for Zijin Gold International Company Limited, which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, to acquire the entire company in a deal valued at USD 4 billion.

In a recent statement obtained by Capital, AGC assured that the Kurmuk Gold Mine PLC project, located in the Kurmuk Wereda of the Assosa Zone in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region—750 km west of Addis Ababa—will proceed as planned and will not experience delays.

On Thursday, February 5, AGC clarified that the transaction involves a corporate-level share acquisition rather than the sale of individual assets.

“Allied Gold’s operations and development projects in Ethiopia (Kurmuk), Mali (Sadiola), and Côte d’Ivoire (CDI Complex) will continue to function under their existing legal, regulatory, and contractual frameworks after the transaction is completed,” the company stated.

AGC further explained that the Kurmuk Gold Project has not been sold or transferred as a standalone asset. Kurmuk Gold Mine PLC remains an Ethiopian-incorporated entity operating under a valid Mining Development Agreement and in accordance with Ethiopian law.

“The only change resulting from the transaction is the ultimate ownership of the parent company, AGC.”

The company emphasized that the acquisition does not alter Ethiopia’s legal, fiscal, or economic rights concerning the Kurmuk project, which continues to be governed by Ethiopian law and the Mining Development Agreement.

Under the current framework, the Ethiopian government holds a 7% free-carried interest in the project, along with royalties, taxes, duties, and other statutory payments.

Industry experts noted that both Allied Gold and Zijin Gold are publicly listed companies subject to rigorous disclosure, governance, and compliance requirements in Canada, the United States, and Hong Kong.

“As a result, the transaction has been publicly disclosed through regulated stock exchanges and is subject to shareholder and court approvals, as well as regulatory reviews in multiple jurisdictions, including Ethiopia,” they told Capital.

“The process is being conducted transparently, with all necessary notifications and approvals pursued in accordance with Ethiopian law and international best practices.”

AGC confirmed that the development timeline for the Kurmuk project remains unchanged. Technical work, permitting, and development activities are proceeding as planned, with no disruptions to project execution, staffing, or local community engagement.

Sources familiar with the situation, including experts from the Ministry of Mines, informed Capital that the Kurmuk project is expected to be inaugurated in the coming months.

They also indicated that Zijin Gold’s entry into Ethiopia’s mining sector is a positive development, serving as a catalyst to attract other major international players to explore opportunities in the country’s mining industry.

“Zijin Gold, as a global mining operator with extensive international experience, has expressed its intention to collaborate closely with Ethiopian stakeholders to responsibly advance the Kurmuk project over the long term,” AGC added.

It is important to note that when Allied Gold fully acquired Kurmuk Gold Mine PLC in 2023 from its previous owners, the company became a fully public entity with shares traded on major North American stock exchanges.

Experts have pointed out that the public nature of the company’s shares differentiates it from operations with more concentrated or private ownership structures.

AGC’s statement also highlighted that in 2023, ASCOM, the original Egyptian investor, fully exited its interest in Kurmuk Gold Mine PLC through a negotiated commercial arrangement, transferring it to AGC. “As a result, no former investors retain any interest or involvement in the current transaction.”

Ethiopia’s plastic manufacturing sector, a cornerstone of industrial growth for three decades that employs hundreds of thousands and recycles over half the nation’s plastic waste, warns it is on the brink of collapse due to what manufacturers call illegal enforcement of new environmental laws and an unrealistic transition timeline.

The Ethiopian Plastic and Rubber Manufacturers Association says factories with more than 58.8 billion birr in registered capital are shutting down, threatening mass layoffs, bank defaults, and a surge in unsafe food packaging practices — all under the banner of the Solid Waste Management and Disposal Proclamation No. 1383/2025, that took effect on January 31, 2026.

Bereket Gebrehiwet, association board member and head of its proclamation response committee, told Capital the rollout has been marred by “illegal actions” that violate the law itself.

“Article 24 of the proclamation clearly states only the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority, Addis Ababa Environmental Protection Bureau, or Oromia Environmental Protection Bureau can impose administrative measures,” Bereket said. “Police and code enforcement officers have no such power. This must be understood — the enforcement process itself is becoming illegal.”

He condemned street‑level penalties as lacking transparency and due process, leaving retailers and manufacturers vulnerable to arbitrary fines.

The sector’s 860 registered firms directly employ hundreds of thousands and support millions more indirectly through supply chains. Yet manufacturers say the six‑month transition period to phase out thin plastic bags is “unrealistic,” forcing sudden closures.

“Changing a house takes a year. Transforming an industry that supports millions in six months is inconceivable,” Bereket said, calling for at least three years to study alternatives, import machinery with scarce foreign exchange, and retrain workers.

Investors who borrowed hundreds of millions from banks and microfinance institutions now face asset seizures. The association estimates 12 billion birr in unpaid loans could trigger non‑performing loan (NPL) risks across the financial system.

Over $248 million in foreign currency has been spent on modern machinery now sitting idle, a “huge waste” of national resources, manufacturers lament.

Ethiopia generated 9.4 million tons of solid waste in 2024, with only 40% under formal collection. The plastics sector recycled 56% of it, buying waste at 130 birr per kilogram and injecting 51.6 billion birr annually into the informal recycling economy — a significant GDP contributor now at risk.

Without this system, manufacturers warn of environmental backsliding. Market shelves are filling with unauthorized “non‑woven polyethylene” packaging, which experts say is more environmentally harmful than regulated plastics and unsuitable for wet goods like meat.

Food vendors are resorting to old newspapers — dusty and chemically contaminated — raising food poisoning risks. Previously free plastic packaging has been replaced by chargeable alternatives costing consumers 30–100 birr per transaction, exacerbating cost‑of‑living pressures on low‑income households.

Association leaders say they have “knocked on every office door” for 12 months without resolution. They demand guidelines on recyclable plastic thicknesses, a three‑year transition, and dialogue balancing environmental goals with economic realities.

“The government’s promises and actual results do not align. The industry is collapsing, and people are suffering,” Bereket said. “It is not too late to sit down and talk.”

Environmental authorities promote fiber and natural alternatives, but manufacturers argue these are unavailable at scale or affordable prices.

The crisis pits urgent ecological aims against an industry that has driven jobs and waste management. With factories shuttering weekly, stakeholders await government intervention before economic fallout spreads further.