Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh, on Tuesday, noted that the big thrust area for Coffee Board is to promote value added exports.

“The performance of the coffee sector for the year 2005-06 was highly satisfactory and I hope that the momentum will continue in the current year also. Innovating new markets and promoting value added exports must be the thrust area for Coffee board to concentrate on,” he said while addressing media on the 49th Annual Conference of Karnataka Planter’s Association here.

Congratulating the Coffee export award winners for the year 2006-07, the minister also said that the 11th plan has allocated Rs 750 crore for the coffee sector.

He also hinted that re-plantation in 80,000 hectare in various coffee cultivating regions is also proposed to undertake in the 11th five year plan, which will be commissioned in November. Allanasons Limited, Mumbai bagged the Award for the highest exporter of green coffee, while Nestle India limited received the highest exporter of instant coffee award.

Production target

Tata coffee limited, Bangalore and General Commodities Limited Bangalore were presented the awards for the highest exporter of roasted coffees and highest exporter of coffee to the European Union.

Earlier, in his inaugural address, Karnataka Planters Association President Jeffry Rebello said that the domestic coffee production for 2006-07 is placed at 288,000 tonnes when compared to the 274, 000 tonnes in the previous year, an increase of 5.1 per cent. “For the year 2007-08, the coffee board has placed the production of 291,000 tonnes,” he said.