Five Rwandan coffee businesses led by women will participate in the upcoming international coffee exhibition in London, United Kingdom. The event, scheduled to take place on September 29-30, 2026, at the London Business Design Centre, will bring together coffee processors, roasters, importers, distributors, and hotel and foodservice businesses. The Rwandan businesses, including Generalities Ltd, Kalisimbi Kiwieds Coffee, Kinunu Agroprocessing Ltd, Nyamurinda Coffee Growers Ltd, and RIXU Coffee, will showcase their products in the Discovery Village.
The participation of these Rwandan businesses is facilitated by the SheTrades program of the International Trade Centre (ITC). The program aims to support women-led businesses in accessing international markets. The Rwandan delegation will be represented by Marie Louise Murakatete of Generalities Ltd, Sonia Kamarade of Kalisimbi Kiwieds Coffee, Michaelle Kubwimana of Kinunu Agroprocessing, Immaculée Mukamana of Nyamurinda Coffee, and Ritha Umutoni of RIXU Coffee.
This participation follows a visit to the UK by Rwandan coffee businesses in March 2024, where they met with specialty coffee roasters, importers, and distributors in London and Birmingham. The visit helped the businesses understand the requirements of the UK market and build relationships with potential partners. Marie Louise Murakatete expressed her excitement about the upcoming event, stating that it will provide an opportunity to promote her coffee to a new market.
Sonia Kamarade highlighted the challenges faced by coffee businesses in accessing international markets, citing marketing as a significant obstacle. She appreciated the support received from the British Embassy and other partners in promoting Rwandan coffee. The SheTrades program is implemented by the International Trade Centre in collaboration with the Private Sector Federation of Rwanda.
The British Embassy in Rwanda has provided support for the participation of Rwandan coffee businesses in the London event. According to Deputy British Ambassador to Rwanda, Jennifer Stockill, coffee is Rwanda's second-largest export to the UK, after tea. In 2024, Rwanda exported coffee worth over $5 million to the UK.
In 2025, Rwanda's coffee exports reached a record high, with earnings of nearly $150 million, representing a 65% increase from the previous year. The volume of coffee exported also increased by 39% to 23,860 tons. Coffee is a crucial crop for Rwanda, providing a livelihood for around 400,000 smallholder farmers.
The London event provides an opportunity for Rwandan coffee businesses to connect with international buyers and promote their products. The participation of these women-led businesses in the event is expected to contribute to the growth of Rwanda's coffee sector and increase the country's coffee exports.
Key points
- Five Rwandan coffee businesses led by women to participate in London coffee exhibition
- Event aims to attract over 3,500 coffee industry professionals
- Rwandan coffee exports reached a record high in 2025, with earnings of nearly $150 million
