RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — October 28, 2025:
Uganda’s Vice President Jessica Alupo has invited investors from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to explore opportunities in Uganda’s agro-industrial and value-addition sector, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the two nations’ economic partnership.
Speaking on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during a bilateral meeting with H.E. Khalid Al Falih, Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Investment, Alupo said Uganda is ready to become Saudi Arabia’s primary African sourcing and industrial partner for coffee and other agro-value chains.
“Just as Uganda has strategically invested in Saudi Arabia through Nonda Commodities Limited, we invite reciprocal investment to strengthen this two-way partnership,” she noted. “Together we can transform Uganda into Saudi Arabia’s key African partner in agro-industrial growth.”
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 9th Future Investment Initiative Summit in Riyadh, focused on the theme “Deepening Uganda–Saudi Arabia Bilateral Investment Cooperation through the Value-at-Source Coffee Project.”
Alupo revealed that Uganda has identified Saudi Arabia as its global coffee gateway, leveraging the Kingdom’s strategic maritime access through the Red Sea and its growing links to Asian markets, where coffee demand is rapidly increasing.
She explained that the Value-at-Source Coffee Project, worth US$148 million, represents a landmark public–private investment framework connecting Uganda’s production base with Saudi Arabia’s trade logistics.
The initiative features three integrated components:
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Luwero Coffee Park (Uganda): Africa’s largest integrated coffee processing hub, with a capacity of 42,000 metric tonnes annually.
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Jazan Coffee Terminal (Saudi Arabia): A state-of-the-art logistics and value-addition facility handling 24,000 metric tonnes, giving Uganda access to global markets.
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Certified Exchange Warehousing in Jazan: A global-standard coffee trading hub positioning Jazan alongside Antwerp, Trieste, and Dubai.
Alupo said these projects will open dual-market access — with Jazan serving the GCC and Asian markets valued at US$10 billion annually, while Luwero targets the African and emerging global markets, including the US$3 billion African instant coffee sector.
She added that the Nonda Coffee brand will represent a shared identity — grown in Uganda, expanded through Saudi Arabia, and enjoyed globally.
The Vice President commended the visionary leadership of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, saying Uganda’s focus is on partnership through commerce, not aid, in line with Vision 2040 and Vision 2030 aspirations for sustainable industrial growth.
In his remarks, Minister Khalid Al Falih praised Uganda’s peace, stability, and strong leadership under President Museveni, noting that these have made Uganda a beacon of commerce in the region.
“We have seen neighboring countries fall into political strife, but Uganda has remained peaceful because of the wise leadership of President Museveni. As a Kingdom, we trust in his leadership,” Khalid said.
He commended Uganda’s 6.3% economic growth rate for FY 2024/25, driven by agriculture, industry, and services, and pledged continued cooperation in infrastructure, agro-industrial development, minerals, and humanitarian support.
The bilateral engagement, Alupo said, marks a new chapter in Uganda–Saudi Arabia economic relations, anchored on mutual respect, shared prosperity, and industrial transformation.
