The International Coffee & Tea Festival, the only dedicated trade event for the coffee and tea industry in the Arab world, recently concluded in Dubai registering more than 6,500 visitors to its fifth session.

The four-day event also resonated well with international exhibitors from across the world who are increasingly viewing the Middle East market as a very promising arena for investment and business prospects.

Several of these participating businesses showcased new products & concepts at the show, delighting attendees with their unusual and tasteful beverages.

Ryan Godinho, UAE’s national coordinator for World Coffee Events and event director of the International Coffee & Tea Festival, said: “The overwhelming response from participants and the tremendous footfall at this year’s event signifies the growing relevancy of this platform in the region, which was introduced only five years back. We feel the success of the event will also serve as a boost for the industry, further encouraging investor confidence and presenting a more positive industry outlook globally.”

Mark Barnett, owner & designer of Synesso espresso coffee machines, said: “Synesso was successfully launched within the Middle East region at this show which truly showcased excellence in an industry-relevant format. Our sponsorship at this event proved to be a worthy investment in our eyes, with our espresso machines attracting the attention of many who seek to advance their coffee services above all else currently available in the market.

“We have established various business leads through the event and we look forward to being involved once again in the 2014 edition.”

Tea traders and distributors at the International Coffee & Tea Festival also spoke highly of the event’s role in promoting specialty tea businesses and noted that more and more people in the Middle East are now willing to spend money on varied tea blends & products.

Ranjith Abeykoon, director-Tea Promotion, Ceylon Tea, said: “With 310 million kilos of tea exported to the Middle East every year, it is very important for us to have a presence at the International Coffee & Tea Festival. Besides, over the last few years, customers here are becoming more discerning and have developed a preference for specialty tea.”

Another highlight of the 2013 edition was the crowning of the champions of the UAE Barista and Latte Art Championships, which form a key component of the festival.

Kushal Balami, from Coffee Raw won the Barista Champion title and he will now represent the UAE at the World Barista Championships in Italy next year.

The 2014 edition of the show, which is expected to return on a much enhanced and business-conducive format, is already in planning phase, with the dates of the 2014 show soon to be announced, a statement said. – TradeArabia News Service