Beyond industrial diplomacy, the cooperation launched between Saudi Arabia, Italy and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) highlights a strategic issue for Africa: the need to build more integrated, resilient and globally connected coffee supply chains.
On the sidelines of UNIDO’s 21st General Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef met with Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani. Their discussions focused on developing African coffee value chains — from farm-level production to industrial processing and export logistics.
From Farm to Port: A Fragile Logistics Link
Although Africa accounts for nearly 12% of global coffee production, most of the value is still captured outside the continent. Structural weaknesses are well known: low agricultural productivity, limited local processing capacity, gaps in storage and handling infrastructure, and high logistics costs between rural production areas and export ports.
These challenges are precisely what UNIDO, with Italy’s support, is addressing through the ACT – Advancing Climate-Resilience and Transformation in African Coffee programme. The initiative aims to strengthen climate resilience at farm level while helping to build supply chains capable of withstanding increasingly frequent logistics and market disruptions.
Saudi Arabia Emerges as a New Logistics Player
Saudi Arabia’s involvement marks a significant shift. Traditionally an importer, the Kingdom is now positioning itself as a logistics and industrial hub for coffee linking Africa, Europe and Asia.
The Saudi Coffee Company, a key vehicle of this strategy, has expressed its readiness to support African coffee value chains across the entire spectrum — from farming and processing to industrialisation and market access. This approach goes well beyond agricultural cooperation and reflects a broader vision of integrated supply chain development.
One of the main assets identified is Jazan Port, on the Red Sea. Facing the Horn of Africa, the port could play a pivotal role in streamlining coffee flows between East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and European markets. Unlocking this potential, however, will require supporting inland corridors, modern storage facilities and value-added processing capacity.
Capturing More Value in Africa
For African producing countries — including Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania — the challenge is clear: capturing a larger share of value locally. This will require not only industrial investment but also stronger logistics capabilities, better access to finance, compliance with international standards and improved market connectivity.
If effectively implemented, the tripartite cooperation between Italy, Saudi Arabia and UNIDO could help address some of these gaps. Much will depend, however, on the extent to which African governments and local private-sector players are involved, and whether infrastructure — ports, roads, warehouses and multimodal platforms — remains a central pillar of the strategy.
Industrial Diplomacy in Motion
The handover of the UNIDO General Conference presidency from Italy to Saudi Arabia symbolises shifting dynamics in global industrial diplomacy. Riyadh is seeking to play a more active role in shaping strategic value chains — with African coffee emerging as one such priority.
For Africa, this momentum represents an opportunity. As is often the case in supply chain development, success will ultimately hinge on execution: turning political commitments into concrete investments and building logistics systems that are both competitive and inclusive.
