The government will soon begin educating producers in Jazan and Asir and supporting the coffee value chain in the Kingdom, as part of a concerted drive to market the country's brew.
A memorandum of understanding was signed on Tuesday as part of the endeavour by the Saudi Arabian Oil Company and Saudi Coffee Co., a division of the Public Investment Fund, to raise the sector to sustainable levels and position it as a strong national brand.
In accordance with the conditions of the agreement, the coffee company will broaden the programme by educating farmers and provide complete assistance to the Kingdom's value chain for coffee goods.
The project would also entail discussions over the best ways to run the Al-Dair Coffee Development Center, which Saudi Aramco is constructing in conjunction with the Jazan Mountains Development Authority to assist the farmers in the area.
The MoU supports the oil company's initiatives to uphold its social responsibility by funding modest projects in the Kingdom.
The agreement was signed by Fahd Al-Nahit, the chairman of the Saudi Coffee Co., and Khaled Al-Zamil, Saudi Aramco's vice president for public relations.
“This cooperation with the Saudi Coffee Co. represents an important turning point for the citizenship initiatives in Saudi Aramco,” said Al-Zamil.
The project continues to make real contributions to small-scale industry initiatives, such as the programme that was started in 2016 to educate farmers in the Jazan region about the newest sustainable agriculture practises for coffee production.
“This partnership strengthens efforts to develop the coffee industry in the areas of agriculture, research, innovation and marketing, and opens the way for the exchange of experiences and complements Saudi Aramco’s previous efforts in developing the Saudi coffee industry and making it more competitive globally,” he added.
Beekeepers, fishermen, and other crafts that work to strengthen the Kingdom's national identity and contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage are just a few of the traditional and popular professions that Saudi Aramco has already launched and supported through a number of initiatives and projects with a sustainable impact.