In a significant stride towards resilient and sustainable agricultural systems, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has formalized a loan agreement with ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. Limited and its subsidiary, ECOM Agroindustrial Asia Pte Limited (EAA). Co-financed with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the $75 million initiative—titled the “Project for Sustainable Coffee Supply Chain and Small-scale Farmer Support”—aims to fortify coffee supply chains while enhancing the livelihoods and employment prospects of over 60,000 small-scale farmers across India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam.

The project represents a deliberate and strategic intervention to provide long-term working capital to the ECOM Group, ensuring the stable procurement of coffee from smallholder farms, which constitute the backbone of the Asia-Pacific coffee sector. Beyond financing, the program incorporates a comprehensive suite of support services, including guidance on farm management, climate change adaptation pilot projects, and assistance in achieving internationally recognized coffee certifications. A particular emphasis is placed on empowering female farmers, whose participation is crucial for fostering inclusive and equitable growth within rural agricultural communities.

Through this concerted effort, the project aligns with multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including the eradication of poverty (SDG 1), elimination of hunger (SDG 2), promotion of gender equality (SDG 5), creation of decent work and economic growth opportunities (SDG 8), advancement of climate action (SDG 13), and reinforcement of cross-border partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17). By integrating financial support with technical and capacity-building assistance, JICA and ECOM aspire to cultivate a coffee sector that is not only economically robust but also environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.

This initiative underscores the critical nexus between private sector investment, multilateral financing, and grassroots agricultural empowerment. By channeling resources and expertise into smallholder coffee farming, the project seeks to transform the Asia-Pacific coffee landscape, ensuring that sustainability, resilience, and prosperity permeate every stage of the supply chain—from the soil of small-scale farms to the global market.