Exhibitor

“This is the second time we’ve participated in HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair. Our aim is to promote the export business of Japan’s agricultural products to overseas and to raise people’s awareness about the Kyushu area’s position as a strong base for high-quality green tea production,” says Mr Kotaro Matsuda, International Sales Department, Fukuoka Agricultural Products Trading Co., Ltd.

“At the 2012 fair, we exhibited a great variety of our tea products such as green tea, black tea, Sencha and Matcha. A large number of international visitors have expressed interest in our products and we’ve found strong potential for growth in the green tea market abroad. Hong Kong has a competitive green tea market so we need to develop new products targeting high-end customers such as hotels and restaurants. We are still in talks with buyers from Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the Chinese mainland for business deals. We will provide them with FOB or CIF prices of our products for further discussion. The strong buyers’ responses were out of our expectations and we are very happy that we met so many buyers not only from Hong Kong and the mainland but also from other countries. We have gathered a lot of market information and ideas that will help us develop new tea products for overseas customers. We are planning to exhibit at the fair next year as well!”

Mr Kotaro Matsuda, International Sales Department, Fukuoka Agricultural Products Trading Co., Ltd, Japan

“With a business history of about 70 years, Salim Aria Noush (Ltd.) is one of the biggest tea wholesalers in Iran selling black tea of different grades as well as green tea. “Iranian tea has a stable flavor and can be blended well with other teas in the world,” Mr Vahid Zamani, Business Manager. “Our tea is produced in the traditional way and free of fertilizers and pesticides. They are very reasonably priced.” The company made its debut presence at the HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair 2012 and generated positive responses from buyers. “This also marks our first-ever exhibition in the world to promote our tea. Hong Kong is our first destination because of its strategic location and proximity to the Chinese mainland, one of the biggest consumption markets in the world. We have received good responses at the fair. In the first day alone, we met about 100 visitors and found 10 to 15 potential buyers. We are negotiating seriously with two buyers from Singapore and Malaysia for the delivery of up to 100 metric tonnes and 20 metric tonnes of our tea, respectively. We will definitely come again next year”

Mr Vahid Zamani, Business Manager, Salim Aria Noush (Ltd.), Iran

Buyer

“Founded in 1992, Kalpo is a supplier of herbal teas, fruit tea, green tea and black tea. We strive to create 100 per cent natural products to satisfy our clients with a perfect balance between quality and price,” says Mr Eugen Achim, Executive Manager. “I have visited the fair two times. The fair really opens up new business opportunities as I can find all major tea producers in a single place. My focus is to expand our presence with the introduction of organic products and to find good and strong suppliers. I have established contacts with more than 20 suppliers including those from Sri Lanka and the Chinese mainland at the 2012 fair. At present, we are having discussions with three mainland exhibitors for the supply of organic green tea. We expect to place orders worth more than US$100,000 a year from the new suppliers. The fair was very well organised and it has been a rewarding visit. I will be happy to recommend the fair to other companies and am looking to come again in 2013.”
Mr Eugen Achim, Executive Manager, Kalpo s.r.l., Romania