Amb. Teeko Tozay Yorlay, Sr., Liberia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France, held a meeting at the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia near Paris with Ms. Ksenia Hleap, Chief Operating Officer of AVPA (Agency for the Valorization of Agricultural Products), to initiate discussions on Liberia’s participation in the upcoming International Roasted Coffee Contest and award ceremony to be held during the Paris Coffee Show.
The meeting focused on opportunities to showcase Liberia’s premium roasted coffee, strengthen the country’s coffee value chain, facilitate technical training for producers, and expand access to the French and European markets.
Welcoming Ms. Hleap on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Liberia, Ambassador Yorlay expressed appreciation for her acceptance of the Embassy’s invitation and underscored Liberia’s commitment to building strategic partnerships that support the development of the country’s coffee, cocoa, and palm products.
“Libera is keen to cultivate partnerships that create opportunities for our farmers and producers, enhance value addition, and strengthen the agricultural sector as a key pillar of national development,” Ambassador Yorlay stated.
Ms. Hleap thanked the Ambassador for the warm reception and highlighted AVPA’s mission of promoting agricultural producers who create exceptional products in their countries of origin. She emphasized the importance of Liberia’s participation in the international competition, noting that Liberian roasted coffee ranks among the finest in the world and deserves greater international recognition.
According to Ms. Hleap, the International Roasted Coffee Contest is designed to encourage coffee producers worldwide to showcase their products, gain exposure to international buyers, and benefit from training and market-linkage opportunities. She noted that participation would provide Liberian producers with a valuable platform to promote their coffee to the French market and beyond.
Ambassador Yorlay stressed the importance of collaboration between AVPA, Liberia’s Ministry of Agriculture, and local coffee producers to ensure a strong Liberian presence at the competition. He emphasized that participation would help connect Liberian producers with international partners and investors while promoting value addition throughout the production chain.
Ms. Hleap agreed and recommended the organization of a local award ceremony in Liberia to encourage broader participation among coffee farmers and producers. She also cited AVPA’s successful initiatives in Côte d’Ivoire, where coffee farmers were invited to Paris to participate in training programs on coffee roasting and subsequently gained access to the French market.
As a next step, Ms. Hleap indicated that AVPA will formally write to the Embassy of Liberia near Paris to officially invite Liberian coffee farmers and producers to participate in the upcoming award ceremony and provide detailed information on the application and participation process.
Concluding the meeting, Ambassador Yorlay thanked Ms. Hleap for AVPA’s interest in Liberia’s coffee industry and its potential engagement in other agricultural sectors, including cocoa and palm oil. He reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to exploring partnerships that align with the Government of Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and broader efforts to strengthen agricultural productivity, value addition, and export competitiveness.
The Embassy of Liberia near Paris looks forward to continued collaboration with AVPA and other partners to advance opportunities for Liberian farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs on the international stage.
