What to do in Belgium's picturesque capital in two days?
Coffee, women in coffee, development work —these were the words going on in my mind as I touched down Brussels airport from Rome. I arrived at night and looked forward to the two-day conference at Tours and Taxi, yes the name of the venue is quite odd or different.
But of course the first day of my visit was to Antwerp and sell Philippine coffee, hopefully, to one of the world’s biggest importers. I touched base with the Philippine Investment Trade Center and drove to the port city of Belgium with Commercial Officer Benedict Uy. Ben did not know it would be an instant “cupping” experience. To taste Brazil, Honduras, and Colombia —all on one table. Very good prospects to let them try our very own Benguet, Bukidnon, and Matutum, I tell myself—if only we had volume. These guys are serious—350,000 MT of coffee stored in Belgium’s biggest coffee facility—that’s our ten year’s production, I laugh inside.