The first International Tea Fair will be held in Hong Kong on August 13-15, 2009. The event is part of a series of Food and Health events that includes the HKTDC Food Expo 2009 and the International Conference and Exhibition of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products 2009. All events will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The International Tea Fair is being developed by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in partnership with the Chinese Tea Culture International Exchange Association. I will focus on tea-producing and tea-trading regions such as China, Sri Lanka, India and Japan as well as other areas. The HKTDC points to the 200 million middle class Chinese who are interested in purchasing imported luxury and food items as a major market just waiting to be reached by tea producers. Tea production was 3.87 million tons in 2007 according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.

The event hopes to bring together buyers and producers from around the world. Assistance packages are being offered to buyers to attract buyers from emerging markets such as the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Russia as well as the Chinese mainland. The best Hong Kong hotels and restaurants are also looking to improve business during the event.

The Fair will include a tea gallery, tea ceremony demonstrations and a tea competition. The goal is to attract buyers and media interest in hopes of “infusing a tea lifestyle.” The event will be open to the public on the final day.

The HKTDC Food Expo will run from August 13 – 17th as will the International Conference and Exhibition of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products.

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