Indonesia Attracts Rp1.63 Billion of Potential Transaction at Melbourne's Coffee Expo

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian coffee succeeded in attracting buyers' interest at the Melbourne International Coffee Expo 2024 or MICE 2024. The exhibition took place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center or MCEC, Australia which opened on Sunday, May 12, 2024.

Head of the Sydney Trade Promotion Center (ITPC), Christhophorus Barutu, stated in a written statement on Monday that Indonesian coffee succeeded in attracting the interest of buyers in Australia on the first day “with potential transactions worth US$102,000 or the equivalent of Rp1.63 billion.”

Christhophorus said that the exhibition, which lasted for three days, offered various activities such as barista competitions, coffee roasting demonstrations, and latte art training on the first day. "The Indonesian Pavilion itself held coffee cupping and sampling activities for MICE 2024 visitors," he said.

Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Siswo Pramono said that this year marked the ninth year for Indonesia to participate in the Coffee Expo. At this event, Indonesia was eyeing opportunities for coffee business cooperation with Australia. "This participation not only showcases the superiority of Indonesian coffee but is also expected to open up opportunities for wider business collaboration with coffee entrepreneurs in Australia," he said.

The Ministry of Trade, through ITPC Sydney and the Canberra Trade Attaché, is collaborating with Bank Indonesia Beijing to present four exhibitors at the Indonesian Pavilion. The four exhibitors are Aslan Coffee Roaster, Opal Coffee Roaster, PT Ijonesia, and PT Expindo.

On display at the expo were roasted beans from Aceh, North Sumatra, East Java, and West Java. Thus, showing the diversity and richness of Indonesian coffee varieties.

Meanwhile, the Consulate General Indonesia (KJRI) in Melbourne invited five Indonesian coffee expo participants, namely Kancil Global, Ariga Coffee, Anhar Coffee, Papua Black Gold Coffee, and Baliem Blue. The coffees presented by the exhibitors came from East Nusa Tenggara, West Sumatra, Central Java, Bali, South Sulawesi, and Papua.

Apart from coffee products, the Indonesian Pavilion also displays innovative packaging from PT Ijonesia; seaweed-based drinking straws. The straw is claimed to be able to decompose in the sea, so it does not pollute the environment.