Bengaluru: Anil Kumar Bhandari, President of India Coffee Trust (ICT) was elected as the Chairman of Private Sector Consultative Board (PSCB) of International Coffee Organization for a term of one year. PSCB is an International Coffee Organization body comprising of 16 leading industry representatives from producing and consuming countries. The PSCB’s main mission and objective is to increase the world coffee market in value and volume and also support various initiatives in the field of coffee and health.
Bhandari is the first representative of India to occupy this important post and his election is significant on the backdrop of World Coffee Conference (WCC) scheduled in Bengaluru, India, in April 2020.
Speaking about his election, Bhandari said, “My election as Chairman Private Sector Consultative Board of International Coffee Organization is an honour for India and India Coffee Trust. This is the first time that India has chaired the PSCB. I see this as the confidence reposed in India and ICT, going into the World Coffee Conference in 2020, which would be hosted by India and will be held for the first time in Asia. It also indicates the interest that the Global Coffee Sector has in the Indian Coffee Industry and the Indian Coffee Market.”
The 121st Session of International Coffee Council (ICC) under International Coffee Organization (ICO) was held in Mexico City from April 9 to April 13. ICO is an intergovernmental body of Coffee buying & producing nations, having more than 72-member countries and India is one of the founding member of ICO.