Bhubaneswar: From the forested hills of Koraput to one of the world’s most prominent multilateral gatherings, Odisha’s homegrown coffee has found a global platform. Tiger Bright, a brand of Koraput Coffee, was included in special kits distributed by the Ministry of External Affairs to delegates and media personnel attending the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Each kit reportedly contained a 250-gram packet of Koraput Coffee, offering international delegates and journalists a taste of Odisha’s distinctive Arabica produce.
A Local Brand on a Global Platform
Koraput Coffee is more than a premium beverage. Grown in the highlands of southern Odisha, the coffee is closely connected with tribal farming communities and the region’s emerging coffee economy.
Tiger Bright is a 100% Arabica coffee grown in Koraput’s forested hills, and its selection for BRICS formed part of an effort to showcase India’s indigenous and homegrown products during the international gathering.
For an Odisha-origin product, being presented at BRICS represents valuable brand visibility. It demonstrates how regional products rooted in local communities can find space on international platforms when quality, identity and storytelling come together.
BRICS Kit Tells the ‘India Story’
Koraput Coffee was part of a wider selection designed to showcase India’s regional diversity. The curated kits also included products such as sattu and makhana from Bihar and handicrafts from Gujarat.
The Ministry of External Affairs worked with the respective state governments to use these products to present what officials described as the “India Story” to Indian and international media attending the summit.
For Odisha, the inclusion of Koraput Coffee provided an opportunity to showcase not merely a product, but a regional identity built around agriculture, communities and local enterprise.
From ‘Vocal for Local’ to ‘Local for Global’
The development provides an interesting example of how the Vocal for Local philosophy can evolve into a Local for Global opportunity.
A regional brand gaining international exposure can potentially strengthen consumer awareness, improve market visibility and generate greater interest in the ecosystem behind the product.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi welcomed Koraput Coffee’s presence at BRICS, describing it as another opportunity for Odisha’s story and local produce to reach a global platform.
Brewing Opportunities for Koraput
The international spotlight also draws attention to the people behind the coffee.
Coffee cultivation in Koraput has increasingly become associated with tribal livelihoods and sustainable agricultural development. Greater visibility for the product could therefore have significance beyond branding—helping create interest in the region’s coffee value chain and the communities participating in it.
The BRICS exposure does not automatically translate into international commercial expansion, but it provides something valuable for any emerging regional brand: visibility before a global audience.
Odisha’s Brand Story Goes Global
Odisha is increasingly seeking to present itself internationally through investment, industry, tourism, culture and indigenous enterprise. Koraput Coffee adds another dimension to that story.
Its journey demonstrates the potential for a locally rooted product to represent place, people and enterprise simultaneously.
From tribal farms in the Eastern Ghats to the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Koraput Coffee’s moment in the international spotlight carries a simple but powerful message:
Small beans can tell a big story—and Odisha’s story is increasingly travelling beyond its borders.
