Hollywood star George Clooney has supported a Swiss company who are aiming to make South Sudan a coffee exporting country.

Speaking in Paris, the celebrity told a press conference that South Sudan has great potential to grow coffee although he added that “a great deal of work” needed to be done to meet that aim.

Mr. Clooney said that currently oil is the only product coming out of South Sudan, and that oil money goes to large companies and not to the South Sudanese people.

The Swiss company spokesperson said that coffee plantations will be developed near Yei, and that the first coffee will be available for export in 2015.

George Clooney has been to South Sudan several times and last year was arrested in Washington after he protested about the country’s human rights record.