Arrival of the Guest of Honour
Programme:
• National Anthem
• Welcome Address — Convention Host
• Remarks by Industry Leadership
• Address by the Guest of Honour
• Official Opening of the Convention
Theme: Beyond the Leaf
11:30 - 12:45
Challenging the Commodity Mindset
1100HRS - 1130HRS
Networking Tea Break
1130HRS - 1400HRS
Session 1: Challenging the Commodity Mindset
Decision Focus: Should African producers remain within auction-driven price discovery, or actively transition to alternative trade models?
1130HRS - 1145HRS
The Future of the Global Tea Economy
Contribution: Macro structure of price formation and producer positioning
Theme: Beyond the Leaf
1145HRS - 1200HRS
The Evolution of Global Tea Trade Models Contribution
Comparative analysis - auctions vs direct vs hybrid systems.
Auction Dependence vs Market Diversification: What Must Change First?
Panelists: Moderated by MC ,Trade-offs to Resolve:
• Liquidity vs margin expansion
• System stability vs experimentation risk
1245HRS - 1400HRS
Lunch
1400HRS - 1515HRS
Session 2: Which Way Africa?
Decision Focus: Should Africa prioritize scale leadership or reposition toward value-added exports and brand ownership?
Theme: Beyond the Leaf
1400HRS - 1415HRS
Africa's Production Advantage and Strategic Importance Contribution
Volume Leadership or Value Creation: Where Should Africa Compete?
Panelists:
Moderated by MC
Trade-offs to Resolve:
• Cost leadership vs brand investment
• Regional coordination vs national competition
1515HRS - 1700HRS
Exhibitors' Space, Tea Sampling & Networking
1700HRS - 1800HRS
Cocktails
0800HRS - 0900HRS
Arrival and Networking
0900HRS - 0920HRS
Opening Remarks
0920HRS - 1030HRS
Session 3: Climate Resilience
Decision Focus: Is climate investment a compliance cost—or a pathway to competitive advantage?
0920HRS - 0935HRS
Climate Change and Its Impact on Tea Production Regions
Climate Compliance vs Competitive Advantage: Who Pays and Who Benefits?
Panelists:
Moderated by MC
Trade-offs to Resolve:
• Short-term cost vs long-term resilience
• Certification vs monetization
1030HRS - 1115HRS
Tea Break
1115hrs - 1230hrs
Session 4: Digital Transformation
Decision Focus: Will technology improve efficiency—or fundamentally reshape market access and pricing power?
1115HRS - 1135HRS
Technology, Data and the Next Frontier of Tea Trade
By James Suranga Executive Director of the International Tea Committee Ltd.
Contribution: How digital infrastructure changes market structure and power dynamics
1135HRS - 1150HRS
How AI Can Support Sustainability in the Tea Industry
Contribution: Implementation realities and market access implications
1205HRS - 1230HRS
Panel Discussion
By Dr. Moses M. Thiga Director of ICT at Egerton University
, Alan Lai Founder and CEO of ProfilePrint., James Suranga Executive Director of the International Tea Committee Ltd.
Digitize the System or Disrupt It? Control of Data and Market Access
Panelists:
Moderated by MC
Trade-offs to Resolve:
• Efficiency gains vs structural change
1230HRS - 1400HRS
Lunch
1400HRS - 1515HRS
Session 5: Finance and Investment
Decision Focus: Should capital stabilize existing systems—or fund transformation into higher-value markets?
1400HRS - 1420HRS
The Financing Gap in the Global Tea Industry
Contribution: Scale and root causes of capital deficit in tea sector
1420HRS - 1440HRS
Structured Commodity Finance and Investment Opportunities
By
Contribution: Alternative financing models and their applicability to transformation
1440HRS - 1515HRS
Panel Discussion
By
Preserve or Transform: Where Should Capital Flow in Tea?
Panelists:
Moderated by MC
Trade-offs to Resolve:
• Maintenance vs growth investment
• Institutional vs private capital
1515HRS - 1545HRS
Networking Break
1545HRS - 1645HRS
Session 6: Value Creation and Branding
Decision Focus: Should producers remain upstream suppliers or integrate downstream to capture value?
Theme: Beyond the Leaf
1545HRS - 1600HRS
Who Really Controls Value in the Global Tea Industry?
By
Contribution: Value distribution mapping across the supply chain
Sell the Leaf or Own the Customer? The Reality of Value Capture
Panelists:
Moderated by MC
Trade-offs to Resolve:
• Margin vs complexity
• Control vs scalability
Decision Focus: Should African tea optimize existing export markets—or aggressively diversify geographically and logistically?
Theme: Beyond the Leaf
0920HRS - 0940HRS
The Next Decade of African Tea
Contribution: Strategic vision and priority market selection
0940hrs - 0955hrs
Global Logistics
By
Contribution: Route economics, vulnerabilities, and alternative corridors
0955hrs - 1010hrs
Global Logistics
Contribution: Impact of Logistics on Global Tea Trade
1010hrs - 1020hrs
How Should We Market African Tea?
Contribution: Buyer perspective on positioning and market requirements
1010hrs - 1020hrs
Topic TBD
By
Contribution: Buyer perspective on positioning and market requirements
1020HRS - 1040HRS
Panel Discussion
Consolidate or Diversify: Rethinking Market Access and Trade Routes
Panelists:
Moderated by MC
Trade-offs to Resolve:
• Stability vs expansion
• Cost efficiency vs resilience
1040HRS - 1110HRS
Tea Break
1110HRS - 1200HRS
Session 8: Beyond Traditional Markets Decision Focus
Should African tea follow global consumption trends or attempt to shape new demand?
1110HRS - 1125HRS
Tea Tourism and Destination Branding
Contribution: Tourism as a demand creation and narrative control mechanism
1125HRS - 1140HRS
Value Addition Through Specialty Processing: Chinese Matcha in Global Wellness Markets
Contribution: How specialized processing and lifestyle positioning create premium market segments and consumer demand
1140HRS - 1200HRS
Panel Discussion
Follow Demand or Shape It? Competing in New Tea Consumption Channels
Moderated by MC
Trade-offs to Resolve:
• Scale vs differentiation
• Trend participation vs narrative control