Ali Al-Suwaih, Chairman of Injaz International, a subsidiary of Injaz Global Group and Special Advisor for Trade, Investment, and Employment Abroad for the Republic of Uganda, recently signed an exclusive agreement to supply premium Ugandan coffee products to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This step was taken under the directives of the Ugandan leadership and was formalized in a ceremony attended by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni himself.
On the sidelines of the signing ceremony, President Yoweri Museveni expressed his pride and support for this agreement, emphasizing that it represents an important step towards advancing the Ugandan coffee sector and supporting local farmers. He noted that this agreement is part of the Ugandan government’s efforts to enhance its agricultural exports and open new markets for its products.
Uganda is one of the largest coffee producers in the world, with production for the 2023/2024 year estimated at approximately 6.85 million 60-kilogram bags, a 4% increase from the previous year. This growth is attributed to favorable weather conditions and the maturation of coffee trees planted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ugandan coffee exports are expected to rise by 4% to 6.52 million bags, strengthening Uganda’s presence in global markets (Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine) (NUCAFE) (USDA Foreign Agricultural Service).
Regarding coffee consumption in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom is one of the largest coffee consumer markets in the region, having witnessed significant growth in recent years. Coffee consumption in Saudi Arabia is estimated at around 28,000 tons annually, with an increasing number of coffee shops and a growing coffee culture among the Saudi population. This agreement comes at a time when the Saudi market is experiencing rising demand for premium coffee, providing an excellent opportunity for Ugandan coffee to expand and compete in this promising market.
It is noteworthy that this step aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and increase trade cooperation with African countries, thereby opening new horizons for partnership and cooperation in various economic fields.