Kigali — Rwanda will host the coffee Cup of Excellence competition in August. This was revealed last week by the OCIR Cafe Marketing Manager, Beninya Izabiriza, during a fundraising ceremony for the Cup of Excellence competition at Serena Hotel. The event that will be covered by local and international journalists will be held in Africa for the first time.

"This is a competition in which high quality coffees go through the national and international juries' scrutiny to select the best produced in a particular year," Izabiriza explained.

She explained that Rwandan embassies abroad will be actively involved, especially with the invitations to international journalists from countries such as the United States, China and Japan where Rwandan coffee is exported.

Izabiriza was positive that the journalists will help create the needed awareness of Rwanda's good coffees, which will result in higher earnings and better prices on the world market.

"Given the importance of this event on the welfare of the coffee farmers in the development of this economy, no effort will be spared in promoting and supporting it," said Izabiriza, adding that the Cup of Excellence winners will link directly with specialty niche markets translating into long term business relationships.

She went on to say that the cup is a unique opportunity for Rwanda to showcase itself as a package: its positive image, its coffee, its culture and people, to the international community.

The Cup of Excellence competition has existed for many years in countries like Colombia, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Brazil, Honduras and Costa Rica.

The quality of coffee there is taken very seriously and farmers have got in contact with specialty roasters, coffee chains and the money has trickled down to the local communities.