Bengaluru: Bengaluru, often hailed as the coffee capital of India, is set to host the Fifth Edition of the World Coffee Conference (WCC 2023) from Sept. 25 to 28, at the Bangalore Palace. This year’s overarching theme revolves around ‘Sustainability through Circular Economy and Regenerative Agriculture.’

The conference is a collaborative effort by the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), the Coffee Board of India, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Government of India, the Government of Karnataka, and key players in the coffee industry. A notable addition to this year’s event is the appointment of tennis player and Arjuna awardee, Rohan Bopanna, as the brand ambassador for WCC 2023 by the Coffee Board. The event marks a significant milestone as India and Asia prepare to host this prestigious global coffee gathering for the first time.

The World Coffee Conference, under the umbrella of the London-based ICO, established in 1963 under the auspices of the United Nations, aims to enhance the global economic importance of coffee. The previous editions of WCC were held in London (2001), Brazil (2005), Guatemala (2010) and Ethiopia (2016).

K.G. Jagadeesha, CEO and Secretary of the Coffee Board of India, emphasised the profound implications of Bengaluru’s selection as the host city for WCC. He stated, “Hosting WCC is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for India, given that ICO encompasses 70 coffee-producing and consuming countries as its members.”

The event is poised to significantly enhance India’s presence and recognition in the global coffee markets. Coffee, valued at over 200 billion dollars, stands  as the world’s largest traded commodity, offering employment and livelihood to over 100 million families. Karnataka alone contributes to over 70 percent of India’s total coffee production, with Bengaluru undisputedly holding the title of India’s coffee capital, renowned for producing some of the world’s finest coffee beans.

The conference presents a remarkable opportunity for investments spanning the entire coffee value chain, from bean to cup, encompassing coffee equipment, machines, soluble coffee brands and                  cafes. In turn, this will create employment prospects across coffee farms and cafes, the organisers said.