The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), COMESA East Africa Horticultural Accelerator (CEHA), GIZ, and TechnoServe met today to discuss an initiative aimed at transforming Ethiopia’s horticulture sector.

As part of the initiative, the CEHA Project focuses on avocados, onions, and potatoes.

Through grants supported by COMESA-CEHA and its partners, two companies in Ethiopia have already benefited from the program, while three additional companies are currently at the pre-selection stage. The COMESA team is conducting due diligence assessments for the selected companies and providing support to the existing beneficiaries.

The CEHA program aims to strengthen horticulture value chains, increase income generation, create employment opportunities, and improve export competitiveness across five East African countries.

EHPEA Executive Director Tewodros Zewdie met with representatives from COMESA, GIZ, and TechnoServe at the EHPEA office where productive discussion was held on project progress, collaboration opportunities, and the way forward.

Implemented in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania, the project seeks to strengthen regional and international trade, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance the overall value of the horticulture sector, particularly for high-value fruits and vegetables.

The initiative also supports agribusiness cooperatives and associations through capacity building, infrastructure development, and technology improvement, promoting a sustainable, competitive, and high-growth horticulture sector in Ethiopia.