By IANS,
Bangalore: The third edition of the India International Coffee Festival (IIC 2009) began here Wednesday evening on a subdued note in light of the flood havoc in north Karnataka as the main dignitaries kept away from the inaugural function.
Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, who was to inaugurate the three-day event, informed the organisers that he was unable to participate in the function due to pressing engagements in New Delhi.
Similarly, Law and Justice Minister M. Veerappa Moily, who hails from Karnataka, and was to unveil the fest exhibition, kept away as he was otherwise occupied in the national capital.
“Both the union ministers have expressed their inability to be present on this occasion due to unavoidable circumstances and last-minute changes in their schedules,” state-run Coffee Board chairman G.V. Krishna Rau told IANS on the margins of the event.
In the absence of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and many of his cabinet colleagues, who are busy overseeing relief and rehabilitation measures in the flood-hit districts, state Chief Secretary S.V. Ranganath inaugurated the fest and presided over the function.
“We have toned down the fest due to the recent floods in Karnataka and neighbouring states,” Rau admitted.
About 500 delegates from 17 countries comprising coffee growers, roasters, brewers, exporters and equipment manufacturers are participating in the bi-annual event in this tech hub, also known as the coffee capital of India. The state is the largest producer of the aromatic bean as well as its top consumer.
Top commerce ministry officials were also conspicuously absent from the premiere event on the plantation commodity.
Among the leading producing and consuming countries participating in the conferences and expo at the event are Australia, Brazil, Britain, Colombia, Germany, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Nicaragua, Singapore, Sweden, Uganda, UAE, the US and Vietnam.
In the backdrop of unprecedented rains and floods in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa, social and cultural events at the fest have also been kept to minimal.
“The steering committee has decided to contribute Rs.1 million towards the Prime Minister’s national relief fund,” fest convenor Anik Kumar Bhandari said.