Specialty Coffee and Tea Convention 2009 to throw light on regional investment opportunities and global trends in coffee and tea consumption

The Convention, which has been organised as a major complementary initiative that seeks to support the significant growth of the GCC's beverage market, will be held at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel in Dubai from November 10 to 12, 2009.

Renowned international experts and professionals led by Jose Sette, Head of Operations of the International Coffee Organization (ICO), will speak at the conference. Sette will deliver the keynote address and will conduct a presentation titled "Outlook for the Middle Eastern and World Coffee Markets," during which he will illustrate the recent trends in coffee prices and highlight production and consumption, with a special emphasis on the evolution of coffee consumption in the region and the impact of the economic downturn on the global coffee sector. Ric Rhinehart, Executive Director of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), will serve as the 2009 Conference Chairman.

Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, IC&E, organisers of the event, said:

"The 2009 Conference will gather influential figures and leading industry authorities who will spearhead a thought-provoking conference that will give participants a broader and objective perspective of the present and future prospects of the industry. With a diverse mix of participants including retailers, franchisers, distributors, trainers, specialists, hotel professionals and several other representatives from various industry segments, the 2009 Conference will also provide an excellent opportunity for industry players to discover new business leads and forge synergistic partnerships."

"Over the years, we have witnessed a growing consumption of beverages across the UAE and the rest of the GCC. The Specialty Coffee & Tea Convention 2009 seeks to nurture this trend by creating a definitive platform that tackles and addresses the distinct challenges of the coffee and tea trade, while promoting sustainable strategies for growth," added Godinho.

Key topics discussed during the conference will include Global Trends in Coffee Consumption, Opportunities and Threats; Improving the Quality of Coffee - Service and the Product; Promoting the Health Benefits of Coffee; The State and Future of Coffee in the GCC Region; Differentiating Tea - History and Trends; Local Investment Opportunities, Franchising and Setting up in the Region; Assessing Consumer Liquidity - Supply and Demand; and Corporate Social Responsibility and Fair Trade Focus. There will also be networking activities and workshops on Espresso Fundamentals, Basics of Cupping, Roasting and Specialty Tea.

Prominent industry figures speaking at the Conference include Tracy Allen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Brewed Behavior (USA); Judith Ganes-Chase, President and Founder of J Ganes Consulting LLC (USA); Mohamed Moledina, President of Moledina Commodities (USA); Ellie Hudson-Matuszak, Vice President of Training and Operations of Coffee Solutions (USA); Jeff Vojta, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stockton Graham & Co. (USA); Andrew Hetzel, Founder and President of Cafemakers LLC (USA); and Stephen Morrisey, 2008 World Barista Champion.

Serving as a major highlight of the Specialty Coffee & Tea Convention 2009 is the first-ever National UAE Barista Championship, which will determine the UAE's representative to the World Barista Championship in London, UK in 2010. Preliminary rounds of the competition will be held on November 10 and 11, while the final round will be on November 12. The inaugural National UAE Barista Championship is the only barista competition in the region accredited by the World Barista Championship, the world's biggest and premier coffee competition.