The event was held in the presence of Linda Cohen, the Mayor of the City of South Portland and Francis Bukuzagara, Second Counselor at the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in the US.
Mike Mwenedata, the founder and owner of Rwanda Bean Coffee, expressed his gratitude for the the Rwandan community and also from the City Officials present to support the launch event.
Rwanda Bean is a socially responsible business that sources directly from farmers, helping them to make the leap from subsistence farming to becoming skilled partners in the expert cultivation of Rwanda coffee. Bypassing coffee brokers is one aspect of the business that Mwenedata the founder finds most rewarding for his farmers because it has allowed for the farmers to earn a fair wage.
The store sells freshly brewed coffee straight from Rwanda and packaged coffee that has received accolade on grounds of the beans’ aromatic richness, complexity, balance, elegance and aroma intensity and strength.
In his remarks, Francis Bukuzagara, second counselor at the Embassy of Rwanda in the U.S. commended Mike Mwenedata for having launched a successful business, and reminded those present that such initiatives are made possible because of the favorable business environment that Rwanda’s leadership has achieved, allowing foreign investment to adequately do business with Rwanda.
“The state of Maine has the largest Rwandan diaspora in the U.S., and I take this opportunity to thank the Mayor for providing them with opportunities that have seen people like Mr. Mwenedata grow into successful entrepreneurs and good citizens. With such attachment, a sister city relationship between South Portland and a city in Rwanda would be mutually beneficial, and we are open to discuss how we can further this initiative,” said Mr. Bukuzagara in his short remarks.
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