Cotti Coffee Establishes Strategic Partnership with Rwanda to Establish China-Rwanda International Model Coffee Industry Park

On June 6, Beijing time, Cotti Coffee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources of the Republic of Rwanda signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Strategic Cooperation in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.. Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources of Rwanda, Gao Zhiqiang, Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, Zheng Weijie, President of International Business of Cotti Coffee, and heads of major institutions such as the Rwanda Agricultural Development Board and the National Agricultural Export Development Board attended the signing ceremony and delivered speeches.

According to the memorandum, Cotti Coffee will invest in the construction of the “China-Rwanda International Model Coffee Industry Development Park” in Rwanda. The project includes sub-projects such as the “International Model Coffee Cultivation Park” “International Model Coffee Processing Park” and “Coffee-based Smart Agriculture Park”, “International Coffee Processing Demonstration Park”, and “International Coffee Trading Demonstration Park”, to promote the high-quality development of Rwanda’s coffee industry. In addition, the two sides will regularly host the Global Rwanda Coffee Cultural Festival  to enhance the global awareness and recognition of Rwandan coffee.

Rwanda is endowed with unique geographical advantages and abundant agricultural resources, located in the heart of Africa, and is an emerging force in the global specialty coffee map. Rwanda coffee is widely grown in volcanic hilly areas, with abundant rainfall and a climate with significant temperature differences between day and night, giving the coffee beans a distinct fruity sweetness and refreshing acidity. Rwanda is one of the earliest countries in East Africa to participate in the COE competition (since 2008), with award-winning beans repeatedly scoring above 86 points (the threshold for specialty coffee is 80+), ranking among the highest levels currently recognized in the international coffee industry.

Cotti Coffee is a leading global coffee chain brand, with operations in 28 countries and regions worldwide, and more than 14,000 stores, ranking third globally. Cotti Coffee drives change through technology, adhering to the brand philosophy of “Great coffee starts with great ingredients”, and is committed to providing customers with high-quality, cost-effective, and convenient products and a youthful and fashionable brand experience. Cotti Coffee is the global sponsor of the Argentine national football team. At the 2024 IIAC International Coffee Tasting Competition, Cotti Coffee won 7 gold medals, becoming the Chinese brand with the most gold medals that year.

Industry insiders said that this move can support the rapid development of Cotti Coffee, provide the company with stable and high-quality coffee bean resources, and also improve the overall level of Rwanda’s coffee industry, responding to the country’s “Belt and Road” initiative.(By Fran)