Rwandan coffee getting a helping hand from Alibaba

Coffee lovers in China are increasingly embracing brands like Starbucks, Costa and local ones like Luckin. But few know that one of the countries producing high-quality, high-altitude coffee beans is Rwanda.

As the East African nation positions itself as a world-class specialty coffee destination, Chinese company Alibaba Group is lending a helping hand to raise its flavor and aroma profile through technologies and networks, as well as people dedicated to its promotion.

Diabate Dean Harry, a French project leader from Tmall Global, seems a perfect fit. A graduate of Alibaba's global talent nurturing program - the Alibaba Global Leadership Academy, he understands the Chinese tech emporium just as much as he understands Africa, the continent where his parents originally come from.