When I came to Germany two decades ago, as a student I worked for years at trade fairs and events to earn my daily bread. A trade fair is exhausting work. The working day starts with dragging heavy boxes down endless aisles, after which you have to stand for hours or run for miles to fetch extension cords, tape or drinking glasses or whatever, because some of these things are always missing, and all this in shoes that are too tight and heels that are too high. The main supply consists of mineral water and coffee so strong that you can only get it down if you throw in two spoonfuls of sugar. And always smile, smile, smile. Every night you just want to go home and sleep for three days. In 2010 I said goodbye to the world of trade fairs and vowed never to return until I founded my company Mishki Yaku Coffee in 2022.
Last year's WOC fair in Milan was already a little surprise for me. Being among visitors and exhibitors again, walking through the large halls, meeting new people and gathering information. It all felt very familiar.
Last week I spent three days at Europe's largest travel trade fair, the ITB in Berlin. This year it was being held again for the first time since the Corona pandemic. I had the great honor of being an exhibitor and presenter at the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism pavilion.
The logistical effort was high. Cocoa products, wines, orchids, traditional dances, costumes, food of all kinds and, of course, specialty coffee from Mishki Yaku were presented without interruption by the tireless team with motivation and professionalism. As a team, we managed to present a multi-ethnic, mega-diverse and multi-faceted Ecuador. The team's commitment was definitely noticed by the ITB organizers and we were awarded third place as the best destination in South America and the Caribbean.
I was very proud to work with the Ministry's staff. The support to the participants and exhibitors and those who brought the pavilion to life was great. The Minister of Tourism, Niels Olsen, showed his appreciation to the team throughout the event.
I was surprised by the internationality of the colleagues. Only two of the exhibitors - including myself - were from Berlin. Some colleagues had traveled from Nuremberg, others from London. Most of us have been living outside Ecuador for years and have often founded our own small businesses. But the love for our home country has brought us together again here, in this small place, and no matter where we live or how we organize our lives, we are all ambassadors for Ecuador.
It was a very intense and exhausting three days. Fairs are always exhausting, but this time something was added. The pleasant feeling of being in the right place. Twenty years ago I was a small fish swimming in a big fish tank with many other fish and now I am back in the fish tank, but this time as a slightly bigger fish.
Thank you very much, Mr. Minister, thank you very much Mr. Ambassador, thank you very much, dear colleagues.
