Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz expressed commitment to making Ethiopia a leading force in the global market for specialty coffee. Starbucks Chairman, Howard Schultz visited Ethiopia from 27-30 November, 2007.Deliberations focused on the expansion of the coffee industry, and the visit was successful in promoting Ethiopia's image.

Starbucks, the giant American coffee shop chain will open a Farmer Support Centre, the first ever in Africa, in 2008 to help coffee growers and exporters to boost the quality of their product. The company has also pledged to assign agronomists to introduce producers to coffee and farmer equity practices paving the way for quality coffee production. As part of its expanded economic investment in the region, Starbucks announced that negotiations are underway with an Ethiopian garment factory, Almeda, to manufacture Starbucks black aprons, worn by about 27,000 employees.

The American coffee shop chain buys coffee worth 300 million pound per annum and has increased by 400 percent the amount it imports from Ethiopia in the years 2002 through 2006.Further rise is expected next year.