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RIYADH: Ten agreements were signed during the International Saudi Coffee Exhibition 2024, which was held in Jazan at Prince Sultan Cultural Center from Feb. 14-15, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The agreements focused on promoting the culture of Saudi coffee production, providing investment opportunities and leveraging empowerment opportunities.

The event witnessed the participation of local and international parties, with experts and specialists in coffee cultivation sharing insights into products and the industry.

Dr. Metib Bin Khalifa Al-Kuhail, the adviser to the Jazan Development Strategic Office and official spokesperson for the event, lauded its success.

Al-Kuhail attributed the achievement to the unwavering support of the leadership of Jazan.

Their commitment to the development of the coffee farming sector in Jazan has played a pivotal role in expanding production, he added.

Al-Kuhail highlighted the exhibition’s success in engaging farmers from Jazan, Al-Baha and Asir. The event served as a platform to foster communication between stakeholders, experts and investors.

As demand for locally and globally sourced coffee continues to rise, constructive dialogue at the event aimed to address challenges faced by farmers and investors.

One solution proposed at the event to propel the future of Saudi coffee is the development of new coffee strains, filling market gaps in the international coffee trade.

Mansour Al-Mushaiti, Saudi deputy minister of environment, water and agriculture, in a speech at the opening ceremony of the exhibition, said that the Kingdom’s coffee industry has undergone a qualitative shift over the past decade, growing from a local to global scale.

He described the event as a pivotal platform for advancing the industry by offering specialized training for coffee farmers, and workshops and cultural gatherings.

The deputy minister also highlighted the agricultural sector’s pivotal role in boosting national development, and said there are plans for new coffee processing facilities in the Al-Dayer governorate, model coffee nurseries across Jazan and Asir, as well as a pioneering coffee city in Al-Baha.

The Kingdom’s Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program has provided more than SR155 million ($41.3 million) to 7,256 people across various agricultural industries, with coffee farmers making up a significant proportion of recipients.