The Vice President Jessica Alupo has invited investors from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to take interest in Uganda’s agro-industrial and value-addition sector to strengthen the country’s two way partnership. “Just as Uganda has strategically invested in Saudi Arabia through Nonda Commodities Limited, we invite reciprocal investment to strengthen this two-way partnership. Together we can transform Uganda into Saudi Arabia’s primary African sourcing and industrial partner for coffee and related agro-value chains,” Alupo said.
The Vice President made the remarks as she represented President Museveni during a bilateral meeting with H.E Khalid Al Falih, the Minister for Investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of the Ninth edition of the Future Investment Initiative Summit in Riyadh City.
The bilateral meeting was guided by the theme, ‘Deepening Uganda-Saudi Arabia bilateral Investment Cooperation through the Value-at-Source Coffee Project’. In an effort to position the Kingdom as Uganda’s global coffee gateway, the Hon. Jessica Alupo said Uganda has strategically identified the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the global center for handling and re-exporting coffee to the Gulf Cooperation Council and beyond. “This alignment leverages the Kingdom’s maritime access through the Red sea and its growing connectivity to Asian consumer markets, which represents the fastest-rising coffee demand globally,” Alupo said.
She stressed that through the Value-at-Source Coffee Project, Uganda seeks to jointly establish bilateral economic relevance in the global coffee trade, by ensuring that both countries share in value creation rather than raw commodity exchange.
The value-at-source coffee project, a bilateral economic framework, is a landmark initiative which represents a US$148m public-private investment partnership linking Uganda’s production base with Saudi Arabia’s strategic trade location.
It comprises three integrated components including the Luwero Coffee Park (Uganda)which is Africa’s largest integrated coffee processing hub with a green bean handling capacity of 42,000MT annually. Next to that is the Jazan Coffee Terminal(Saudi Arabia), a modern logistics and value addition terminal with 24,000MT handling capacity. It provides global maritime access for Uganda’s green and value added coffee. Thirdly is the Certified Exchange Warehousing in Jazan which positions Jazan as one of the world’s recognized coffee trading and warehousing ports similar to Antwerp, Trieste, or Dubai which enhances both visibility in global coffee trade.
Alupo emphasized that the above shared market opportunities will open dual-market access for example Jazan’s operations will serve the GCC and Asian markets, valued at over US$10B annually. Luweero’s operations will serve the African and global emerging markets including the rapidly growing US$3b African instant coffee sector. She added that the Nonda coffee brand and related value-addition products will embody a bilateral identity-grown in Uganda, expanded through Saudi Arabia, and enjoyed globally.
Alupo, also the woman MP for Katakwi District commended the visionary leadership of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for positioning the Kingdom as a global investment powerhouse. She further noted that Uganda came to the above meeting not seeking aid, but partnership through commerce-a shift that reflects the country’s shared Vision 2040 and Vision 2030 of aspiring for self-sustaining industrial growth.
In his remarks, H.E Khalid commended the Ugandan government for the continued prosperity, peace and stability, and wished President Museveni success in the coming presidential elections. “Uganda should remain the beacon of commerce in the region. We have seen countries neighboring Uganda falling into political strife but Uganda has remained peaceful and all this is because of the wise leadership of president Museveni. As a Kingdom, we trust in his leadership,” Khalid.
He pledged to continue enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation between the two nations through infrastructural development, agro-industrial sector, mineral development, and humanitarian support to Uganda.
The minister was impressed with Uganda’s economic growth rate which stands at 6.3% in 2024\25 which is driven by strong performance in agriculture, industry and services. He attributed the above rapid growth to the wisdom and efficiency of Uganda’s leadership and pledged on behalf of Saudi Arabia to continue supporting the country’s growth and development agenda.