Government Committed to Supporting and Facilitating the Coffee Industry: Rahul Khullar Launches the India International Coffee Festival 2012

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

07-December-2011 17:25 IST

Shri Rahul Khullar the Commerce Secretary, Government of India launched the India International Coffee festival 2012, here today. Speaking on the occasion Shri Khullar said, “As Coffee Industry in India in basically a private sector driven Industry, Government will confine its role of an enabler, facilitator & supportive partner. We will keep doing the promotional campaigns and solving the production related problems.” There are issues related to wages labour and need for mechanization are the pressing concerns that needs to be addressed, he added. India is in the 6th position in the world in terms of production of coffee; India occupies 2% of the area and accounts for 4% of the total world production. It also accounts for the 4% of the world coffee exports. India export in the year 2010-2011 is to the tune of 294362 metric tonnes and production in 2011-12 (provisional) is 322250 metric tonnes.

Shri Jawid Akhtar Chairman Coffee Board informed that, the consumption of coffee in the non south regions have grown phenomenally with the northern states contributing to more than 50 per cent of the growth at the rate of 40 per cent YOY. Coffee consumption in India has increased from 70,000 tonnes in 2003 to 1, 00,000 tonnes in 2009 of which more than 16,000 tonnes is contributed by the non-conventional coffee drinking regions (North, West and East). The main reason for the success of the cafés in India has been the significant shift in the demographics, increased urbanization and greater disposable income levels. Of the total coffee consumption, 57% is of Instant coffee while 43% is Roast and Ground (filter). Coffee consumption in non-south is overwhelmingly of instant coffee only.

Announcing the launch of the India International Coffee Festival 2012, Mr. Anil Bhandari, President, India Coffee Trust & Member, and Coffee Board of India said that the prestigious 3-day festival will host some of the most sought-after names in the coffee industry and will connect the entire coffee industry through a series of educative, business & networking and also festive events. “

Workshops at the IICF 2012 will provide an interactive and interesting learning experience with focus on roasting, espresso-making and filter coffee brewing. Modules have been designed to educate and train the participating coffee professionals to build their knowledge base and skill sets beneficial for the coffee business and professional development. Whether one is a coffee professional, an amateur, a connoisseur of coffee or even one who wants to experiment with coffee, the workshops at IICF 2012 will have something for everyone.

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