Over 500 delegates from more than 15 coffee growing nations in the world will participate in the India International Coffee Festival (IICF) - 2009 scheduled to be held in Bangalore from October 7 to 9, convenor and coordinator of the IICF Anil Kumar Bhandari said here.
Mr. Bhandari told presspersons that coffee growers, exporters and manufacturers of machineries used in coffee production will take part in the festival which will enable the stakeholders of the coffee industry to interact with each other, and share and discuss emerging trends and best practices in the industry. At the IICF, the current status and trends of the Indian coffee will be highlighted.
Mr. Bhandari said that 40 exhibitors will showcase their products at the “Coffee Expo”, which will be held as part of the IICF. The Coffee Expo will throw light on the entire coffee supply chain with leading national and international suppliers, exporters, manufacturers and retail chains taking part, Mr. Bhandari said.
Some of the major coffee companies that are sponsoring and taking part in the event are: Café Coffee Day, Tata Coffee, Eight O’clock Coffee, Nestle India, Hindustan Unilever Limited and Allanasons Limited. Manufacturers of coffee-roasting apparatus from Germany, Italy, the U.S. and Switzerland are expected to participate.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma will inaugurate the festival.
Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily will preside over the inaugural function.
Speakers who will deliver talks during the festival include Nestor Osorio, Executive Director of the International Coffee Organisation, R.K. Krishna Kumar, Chairman of Tata Coffee Limited, V.G. Siddharta, Chairman of ABC Trading Limited, and G.V. Krishna Rau, Chairman of the Coffee Board.