Uganda To Host 4th African Tea Convention

Posted by: lukwago J in Agriculture May 23, 2019

Uganda is set to host the 4^th African Tea Convention & Exhibition starting from 26^th to 28^th June 2019 at Serena Kampala Hotel.

This is a global event for the tea industry organized by the East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) based in Mombasa, Kenya assisted by the Uganda tea umbrella organization, (Uganda Tea Association).

According to East African Tea Trade Association Managing Director Edward Mudibo,the conference will host specialized forums focusing on the four crucial aspects affecting the tea farmer –e.g. the environment, production and processing, human rights and other tea production challenges and consumer changing tests.

The convention shall also feature an exhibition of the latest trends and tea products from all over the world and provide a one-on-one interaction of the global tea industry experts.

“The event provides a great opportunity for its stakeholders to interact with world tea leaders and technology experts, industry experts, agriculture input suppliers, practitioners, researchers and scholars, financiers and investors, logistic and warehousing experts, tea buyers, tea packers and retailers, shippers and freight agents, supply chain corporates, commodity traders, tea brokers, tea value adders & blenders and other inputs suppliers among other stakeholders from over 30 tea producing and consuming countries across the globe; to mention but a few are Kenya, Rwanda, Japan, USA, Germany, Denmark, Pakistan, India, Malawi, Spain, Sri Lanka South Africa, Argentina,Uzbeskistan and United Kingdom,”Mudibo said.

“The African Tea Convention and Exhibition is the largest tea industry trade show and conference in Africa. Thousands of stakeholders attend it to discover latest trends of tea products from all over the world, to exhibit and see new technology in the tea industry like machinery and in some instances make firm orders of the same, to network with colleagues and friends, and gain tea and tea industry education from leading industry experts.” Mudibo added.

The convention has been successfully held since 2011. The 1^st African Tea convention was held in Mombasa Kenya and the 2^nd one was held in Kigali Rwanda in 2013, then the third one held in Nairobi, Kenya. More than 50 tea companies have participated in the exhibitions. It normally attracts more than 500 delegates. It is the best platform for tea companies to find agents, find new customers, understand the market and promote new products and brands.

George Ssekitoleko, Executive Secretary of Uganda Tea Association (UTA) noted that tea is the most consumed beverage in the world and Uganda is one of the largest tea producing countries in Africa being 2^nd to Kenya however government needs to come on board to boost tea consumption the want coffee promotion and consumption has been promoted.

Sekitoleko is optimistic that the convention will increase Uganda tea exports outside Uganda .Currently there over 20 tea producing companies in Uganda

The East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) founded in 1957 is hosted in Mombasa Kenya. It is the apex body representing the tea industry in Africa. EATTA is made of members from Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo, Madagascar, Ethiopia & Mozambique. The membership comprises Tea Producers, Buyers/Exporters, Brokers, ware house men and packers, is a voluntary organization promoting the best interests of the Tea Trade in Africa.

EATTA runs the Mombasa Tea Auction at the Tea Trade Centre. This is the largest black CTC auction centre in the world with 32% of the tea exported to the world passing through Mombasa.

UTA is the umbrella body of companies and individuals who are in the business
of growing, processing and trading in tea. It was established in 1948 as a voluntary association to discuss common problems affecting the tea industry and find solutions; for all the years till 1999 the voluntary association had not been registered. UTA is now a registered non-government organization limited by guarantee. It is a non-profit organization funded through monthly subscription by members. It has a membership of 20 tea producing and exporting companies with over 30 tea processing factories.

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