JAKARTA, Indonesia – Coffee has become an important export product for Indonesia. At the Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) a cup of Indonesian coffee was sold at IDR 2.5 million (US$182) per cup during the charity coffee event held for Indonesian farmers on Saturday.
“We want to show the quality of Indonesian coffee to all the visitors and buyers,” said the Ministry of Trade’s Director of Promotions and Image Development, Pradnyawati, in Jakarta on Saturday (24/10).
As one of the largest coffee producer in the world, Indonesia is ready to fill up the world’s coffee market. Opportunities for exports of Indonesian coffee are still wide open.
Buyers that filled up TEI were very enthusiastic and interested in buying in huge quantities various variants of Indonesian coffee. Robusta coffee dominates the type of coffee produced by Indonesian farmers, with distinctive tastes according to their respective geographic indications.
The Ministry of Trade is working together with an organization named Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia (Scopi) to hold a program entitled Sustainable Coffee For Prosperity, Health, and Beauty; held throughout TEI 2015.
“The target audience for this event is not only buyers but the general public so that they can know more about Indonesian coffee from in terms of both taste and quality,” said Pradnyawati.
The Sustainable Coffee For Prosperity, Health, and Beauty program was held in three panel discussions, namely the workshop, the show and charity, and the coffee gallery.
The workshop was held for five days with a different topic each day, namely the Scopi Task Force Program Development; Farmer Centric for Sustainable Trade and Farming for Business; the Youth and Sustainable Farming; the National Curriculum for Good Agricultural Practices; and Coffee & Cocoa for Health & Beauty.
Meanwhile, during the show and charity, various activities were held, including a coffee cupping, a manual brew bar, an espresso bar, a roasting corner, a meet the farmers event, a business 101 class, and a coffee superstar event.
Moreover, there was a coffee gallery where visitors can obtain in-depth information about Indonesian coffee.
Coffee Diplomacy
As the main event of the program, a coffee diplomacy event was held on the fourth day of TEI. This event featured honorary guest the Ambassador of New Zealand to Indonesia, Trevor Matheson.
Indonesian officials were also present, namely Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Trade ‘s Director of Promotions and Image Development, Pradnyawati.
The Coffee Diplomacy event produced uplifting results. “New Zealand is now a potential market for Indonesian specialty coffee because of the shift in their society’s culture towards a culture that is now beginning to like coffee,” said the Ambassador of New Zealand, Matheson.
During the opportunity, Ambassador Matheson, Deputy Minister Musdhalifah, and Director of Promotions and Image Development, Pradnyawati also took part in the coffee cupping of Aceh Gayo and Kintamani Coffee.
They tasted the coffee to define its flavor and score its quality in terms of aroma, flavor, viscosity, and harmony of flavors.
Pradnyawati also asserted that the Government ensures the importance of sustainability as a vital part of Indonesian coffee production.
“The Ministry of Trade through TEI 2015 fully supports the efforts towards sustainable Indonesian coffee products,” said Prandyawati.
