Industry Ministry promotes Indonesian specialty coffee in Europe
`We will introduce special Indonesian coffee products and diversify Indonesian coffee products to the world, especially to the European Union community,` said Director of Beverage Industry, Tobacco Products and Refreshments of the Ministry of Industry, Willem Petrus Riwu through a press release in Jakarta, Thursday.The promotional activities are organized by the Ministry of Industry, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in London, KBRI in Brussels, the Indonesian Coffee Exporters Association (GAEKI), the Indonesian Coffee Exporters and Industry Association (AEKI), The Indonesian Speciality Coffee Association (AKSI).The agenda implemented on that occasion included displaying 20 samples of specialty coffee beans from various regions in Indonesia that have passed the cupping test.In addition, presenting and cupping the 20 best green beans in the Indonesian pavilion, showcasing the culture of drinking Aceh's tarik coffee and drinking coffee leaves (Kopi Kahwa) from West Sumatra, as well as displaying the diversification of processed coffee products from 15 coffee processing industries in Indonesia. `This exhibition is a driving force for Indonesian coffee entrepreneurs to introduce products, quality and brand image and obtain various inputs or desires from customers abroad,` said Willem.In 2015, Indonesia was able to export 180 thousand tons of coffee to Europe. The participation in the international event, which was held on June 23-25, 2016, is expected to further boost the export value of Indonesian coffee in the future.Previously, Minister of Industry Saleh Husin said that his party would continue to encourage the development of the coffee industry in the country, from upstream to downstream, in order to increase the added value and competitiveness of Indonesian coffee in the international market. `These efforts are expected to have a positive impact on the value chain, increasing national economic growth, providing jobs, increasing farmers' incomes, and reducing poverty,` he said.Moreover, Saleh said, the opportunities for developing the coffee processing industry in the country are still quite large, along with the high potential for coffee consumption and world coffee demand that continues to rise. `The growth of consumption of processed coffee products in the country is increasing by an average of more than 7 percent per year. This is driven by the growth of the middle class and changes in people's lifestyles,` said the Minister of Industry. Moreover, Indonesia is the largest coffee-producing country with an average production of 685 thousand tons per year or 8.9 percent of world coffee production.
Editor: Tasrief Tarmizihttp://www.antaranews.com/berita/569397/kemenperin-promosi-kopi-spesial-indonesia-ke-eropa