Global Tea Forum to be held in Dubai

Organised by the Dubai Tea Trading Centre (DTTC), The Global Dubai Tea Forum will provide the industry with a platform for interaction, discussion, decision making and business deals involving industry leaders from around the world.

"The DTTC was established with the objective of positioning Dubai as an international hub for tea trading and aims to significantly increase the existing volume of tea trade through Dubai. A record 77.4 million kilos of multi-origin teas were physically cleared into Dubai for re-export between January and October 2005 as compared to 59 million kilos during the same period last year," said Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chief Operating Officer, DMCC. "The Global Dubai Tea Forum to be held in Dubai next year will further enhance the profile of Dubai as a premium hub for the regional and global tea trade," he added.

The world's leading producers, buyers, blenders and industry related services to include raw material, packaging and machine manufacturers will benefit from the opportunity to establish new relationships. It will be an ideal venue for companies to introduce and to showcase new products and services.

Sanjay Sethi, Head of the Dubai Tea Trading Centre, observed: "The Global Dubai Tea Forum will firmly establish Dubai as the hub of the regional tea trade as it will bring together the major players of the sector and highlight trends, opportunities and potential threats that the tea industry faces. The ingredients to make this event a success for delegates and participants are all present and we expect membership enquiries to shoot up. Major commitments and announcements are also expected at the forum from international players."

Panel discussions will feature demand trends in the region, computerised and Internet enabled tea marketing and global consumer behaviour related to tea demand and supply. Producing and consuming country presentations from Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam will be made by representatives of their respective boards.

The event is hosted by the Dubai Tea Trading Centre and organized in partnership with IBC Gulf Conferences. Leading names from the industry have confirmed sponsorship and the growing list of participants includes: DPH International and IMA (Industria Macchine Automatiche) as Gold Sponsors; Finlays Gulf, the Silver Sponsors and SIMBA Commodities, the Bronze sponsors, along with Tejari, M.K.Shah Exports and Steinweg Sharaf also sponsoring different aspects of the Forum. Dubai Ports World (DP World) will sponsor a gala dinner.

DTTC is a subsidiary of the Dubai Metals and Commodities Centre a Dubai government initiative.