After almost two years of disruption and challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore marked the return of large F&B meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) events with last week's Restaurant Asia 2021 (RA 2021) and the 8th International Coffee & Tea Asia (ICTA 2021). ICTA 2021, incorporating Café Asia 2021, Sweets & Bakes Asia 2021, was organised by Conference & Exhibition Management Services (CEMS). RA 2021 was co-organised by the Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) in partnership with CEMS. All the shows were at the Marina Bay Sands Singapore Expo and Convention Centre.
VIP guests include Andrew Kwan, president of RAS, Png Cheong Boon, Chief Executive, Enterprise Singapore, and guest of honour Gan Kim Yong, Singapore Minister of Trade and Industry (MTI). At the site were 113 exhibitors/brands from 12 countries. The show organiser said a bevvy of roving intelligent robots greeted visitors, a crucial innovation in today's F&B scene. The robots provided air purification and general services to guests and exhibitors.
Official country partner
The Republic of Indonesia was the show's official country partner. His Excellency Suryo Pratomo, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore, delivered the welcome address during the opening ceremony. As a country partner, Indonesia has a pavilion, which showcased its strength as an essential supply chain for ingredients critical to the F&B, coffee, and tea industries.
According to data from Statista, Indonesia is the world's fourth-largest coffee producer and exporter, after Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia. In 2019/2020, Indonesia exported approximately 6.62 million 60kg bags of coffee.
Until recently, domestic consumption of coffee has remained low, as Indonesians historically preferred tea over coffee, data revealed. However, in recent years, coffee has increased in popularity, fuelled by the rise of café culture and the changing consumption patterns of the younger generation. (Report by Kristy Tan)
Image Caption: Tasty Asia's Kristy Tan second from left with representatives from the Indonesia Pavilion. From left Rumaksono, Trade Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore; Anastuty Kusumowardhani, and Tri Ameiriana, chief representative and deputy director respectively, Bank Indonesia.
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