HOUSTON, Aug. 31, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Port of Houston Authority (PHA), the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region, and the Greater Houston Coffee Association (GHCA) are pleased to announce the Second Annual Houston Port Region Coffee Symposium. It will be held Thursday, October 19, and Friday, October 20, at the Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel, located at 1600 Lamar Street in Houston, Texas. The theme "Java and Jobs: Creating Economic Stimulus in the Region" reflects the Houston region's rising stature in the global coffee trade and the powerful overall role of this commodity in the area's economic development. The two-day event will feature a guided bus tour of Houston's bustling coffee warehouse district, a preview of the Port of Houston's new Bayport Container Terminal, networking opportunities, business-to-business forums, presentations from key industry leaders, and more -- culminating with an awards dinner honoring area business leaders.
The Port of Houston Authority sought the designation as a Green Coffee Port Exchange as an economic stimulus with the idea that the private sector would further develop the coffee industry in the market. "As a part of the Port Authority's strategy to increase coffee trade in the market, we knew that the private industry would have to develop and build the infrastructure to support it, and they are doing just that. The Port Authority's support of the Coffee Symposium is a way to promote the industry in this Houston region," said PHA Chairman Jim Edmonds.
Special guests who will take part in the Symposium include Drayton McLane, Jr. of McLane Distribution, Inc. and U.S. Representative Gene Green. Notable industry leaders from corporations including Maxwell House, Sara Lee Corporation, Cadeco Industries, and the New York Board of Trade among others will provide informative overviews of the multi-faceted business development opportunities in the global coffee industry.
"Clearly, the Houston region is brewing with global coffee trade opportunities that poise the industry for tremendous economic growth," stated PHA Commissioner Jimmy Burke who also serves as chairman of the Economic Alliance Port Region. "The Economic Alliance Port Region's involvement helps to keep the region informed of the progress that is being made and opportunities for economic development in coffee industry."
According to GHCA President Carlos de Aldecoa Bueno, "The Port of Houston collaborated closely with the Greater Houston Coffee Association to be designated as a Coffee Exchange Port by the New York Board of Trade. Only six short years later, Houston is now the top-ranked port for new coffee being tendered to the NYBOT. That's a great partnership for the entire region."
The cost of full symposium registration is $350 per person and includes the Thursday bus tour, reception, dinner and excursion on the M/V Sam Houston; admission to Symposium sessions on Friday, including meals and a seat at the Awards Dinner Friday evening. Corporate sponsorships are available as well as table sponsorships for the awards dinner.
Proceeds from the symposium will help support the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region and the Greater Houston Coffee Association. Both are non-profit entities committed to promoting the Houston Port Region as a dynamic business community and the Port of Houston as the nation's premier coffee port.
For more information about symposium registration and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.javahouston.com or call 832-864-4021
The Port of Houston Authority
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 6,600 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and tenth largest in the world. The PHA plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange. For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com
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