Chat exports and the Ethiopian economy: Opportunities, dilemmas and constraints

The paper discusses the growing importance of chat as an export product in the Ethiopian economy and the controversies that its production and marketing generate. It also presents the results of the analysis of survey data from 4 major export associations and 10 individual exporters. The results of the study show the opportunities and problems related to chat export to Ethiopiaʹs neighbouring countries in the process of internationalization. The strategic and policy implications of the results are also addressed.