In a move reflecting the depth of growing economic ties and embodying an international commitment to supporting sustainable development, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Italy held a high-level meeting to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation in developing coffee supply chains in Africa. This important meeting took place on the sidelines of the 21st session of the General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), hosted by Riyadh, which saw the transfer of the conference presidency from Italy to the Kingdom.
The meeting brought together His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, with His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Mr. Antonio Tajani, with the active participation of representatives of the Saudi Coffee Company, the investment arm of the Public Investment Fund in the coffee sector.
Historical background and global context
This partnership comes at a time of increasing global demand for high-quality, sustainable coffee. Africa, and particularly countries like Ethiopia, the birthplace of Arabica coffee, is a major source of some of the world's finest coffee beans. However, farmers and producers in many African countries face significant challenges related to climate change, weak infrastructure, and the need for modern technologies to increase productivity and added value. Italy, on the other hand, has a long and distinguished history in the coffee industry, from roasting to global marketing, while the Kingdom, through its Vision 2030, seeks to diversify its economy and invest in promising sectors such as coffee, which is not only an economic product but also an authentic cultural symbol of Saudi hospitality.
The importance of the initiative and its expected impact
During the meeting, the Italian side presented the “ACT – Advancing Climate-Resilience and Transformation in African Coffee Programme,” implemented by UNIDO with Italian support. This initiative aims to support the sustainability of the coffee sector in several selected African countries. In this context, the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, in cooperation with the Saudi Coffee Company, intends to explore ways to contribute effectively to these efforts.
This partnership is expected to have a multi-dimensional impact:
- At the local level, this move strengthens the Kingdom's position as a key player in the global coffee market and supports the Saudi Coffee Company's objectives of securing high-quality coffee bean sources and developing its technical expertise. It also highlights the strategic role of Jazan Port as a pivotal logistics gateway connecting Africa to regional and global markets.
- At the regional level (Africa): Cooperation will contribute to empowering African farmers by transferring knowledge and modern technologies, enhancing their ability to adapt to climate change, and increasing the added value of their products by supporting local manufacturing processes, leading to job creation and improved livelihoods.
- At the international level: This tripartite partnership (Saudi Arabia – Italy – UNIDO) presents an innovative model of multilateral cooperation that combines European expertise, Gulf investment capacity, and African potential, with the aim of building more resilient and sustainable global supply chains and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The Saudi Coffee Company confirmed its full readiness to participate with its technical and operational expertise, which extends from cultivation and processing to manufacturing and marketing, to contribute to achieving the goals of this ambitious initiative.
