Rwanda Coffee meets Europe in Amsterdam
From 16 to 18 April 2026, Rwanda Coffee – A Second Sunrise was featured at Stand C14 at NDSM in Amsterdam. The initiative came from the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) in Rwanda. It brought Rwanda’s specialty coffee story to buyers, roasters, baristas and coffee lovers in one of Europe’s most useful coffee markets. Kawah Coffee was represented at the Rwanda stand as part of that presence.
A strategic market in Europe
The Netherlands was not Rwanda’s largest bilateral coffee buyer. Still, it offered something just as valuable: visibility, premium positioning and access to European relationships. That made Amsterdam a practical place to strengthen ties with importers, specialty roasters, traders and hospitality buyers.
Ambassador Lambert Dushimimana put it this way: “The Netherlands is a strategic market for Rwanda Coffee, not only as a sales destination, but as a platform for visibility, premium positioning and direct relationships with European buyers. Rwanda’s coffee profile aligns strongly with Dutch demand for quality, sustainability and traceability, and we see clear room to grow our market share further.”
A sector with momentum
Rwanda came to Amsterdam on the back of a strong year. In 2025, the country exported 23,860 tonnes of coffee and generated US$148.6 million to US$150 million in export revenues, the highest level on record.
“That growth reflected a broader shift in the sector. Rwanda was moving from volume-based trade toward value-based growth. High-quality Arabica coffee, especially Bourbon varieties grown at high altitudes in volcanic soils, remained central to that story. NAEB’s support, together with investments in quality infrastructure, farmer training and traceability, continued to sharpen Rwanda’s global specialty position,” said Claude Bizimana, Chief Executive Officer of NAEB.
Coffee with roots and reach
At Stand C14, visitors also met Kinunu Agroprocessing and its international brand Kawah Coffee. Kinunu is a family-owned coffee farm and processing station on the shores of Lake Kivu. It works directly with local farmers, 90% of whom are women, and connects specialty coffee production with fair compensation, health insurance and education initiatives.
That gave Rwanda’s coffee story both aroma and backbone. At the Amsterdam Coffee Festival, each cup started a conversation and those conversations could lead to new partnerships across Europe.
