DUBAI, 18th May 2010 (WAM) - Organisers of the Middle East Coffee & Tea Convention, the only dedicated and highly focused trade event for the coffee and tea industry in the Arab World, have announced that the convention will return to Dubai in 2010 with an improved and expanded format following a highly successful debut in 2009. Organised by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and International Conferences & Exhibitions (IC&E), the Middle East Coffee & Tea Convention, formerly known as the Specialty Coffee & Tea Convention, will be held at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel in Dubai from October 12 14.
The GCC remains an important target market for the Middle East Coffee & Tea Convention because of the increasing number of multi-national coffee chains setting up operations in the region; the large number of expatriates and the region's relatively high disposable incomes, which are collectively driving demand for various coffee and tea products and services. In the UAE alone, tea consumption in 2009 achieved a remarkable increase of 47 per cent to 4,227 tonnes, while the annual coffee consumption rate has reached 3.5 kilograms per person, which is even higher than the UK's 3kg per person. Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, IC&E, said: "The Middle East Coffee & Tea Convention has been organised primarily to sustain the boom in the coffee and tea trade in the Middle East. The event provides a dedicated consolidating platform for industry players to identify new business leads and growth opportunities in the region. Moreover, following the highly successful debut of the event in 2009, we expect a greater number of the most influential personalities and decision makers in region's coffee and tea industry to attend this year's Middle East Coffee & Tea Convention, creating a highly conducive environment to build, develop and strengthen strategic business relationships."The 2010 Middle East Coffee & Tea Convention will include a dedicated trade exhibition that will showcase the latest products and provide networking opportunities with potential clients and business partners in the Middle East. Among the products and services to be featured include green and roasted coffees, espresso machines and grinders, blenders and granite machines, coffee and tea-related paraphernalia and gifts, flavourings and syrups, packaging equipment and supplies, store fixtures and display cases, coffee and tea accessories, coffee drinks and mixes, commercial and home brewing equipment, private labelling, and teas and tisanes. The Convention will also hold the 2010 Skill-Building Labs & Lectures, which will offer a variety of educational tracks, allowing participants to hone their craft and learn new and updated skills. The 2010 Skill-Building Labs & Lectures will be facilitated by leading industry experts and will offer limited seats to ensure a more personalised learning environment. The inaugural Middle East Coffee & Tea Convention in 2009 attracted more than 2,000 trade visitors and 50 exhibiting companies from over 10 countries.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.
