Saudi Arabia Showcases Saudi Dates, Coffee at World Water Forum

The Kingdom ranks among the top 10 coffee-consuming nations globally - SPA
The Kingdom ranks among the top 10 coffee-consuming nations globally - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Showcases Saudi Dates, Coffee at World Water Forum

The Kingdom ranks among the top 10 coffee-consuming nations globally - SPA
The Kingdom ranks among the top 10 coffee-consuming nations globally - SPA

The Saudi pavilion at the World Water Forum Exhibition in Indonesia, held from May 18 to 25, garnered significant attention from visitors. Saudi hospitality, exemplified by the quality and variety of dates and coffee on offer, proved a major draw, SPA reported.
Saudi coffee, presented as a symbol of hospitality, added a unique cultural touch to the pavilion. The Kingdom's diverse and flavorful dates impressed attendees, enhancing the positive image of Saudi agricultural products on the international stage.
Saudi Arabia's date exports saw a 14% increase in 2023, reaching a value of SAR 1.462 billion compared to SAR 1.280 billion in 2022. The number of countries importing Saudi dates has grown to 119, with exports of dates and by-products experiencing a staggering 152.5% increase since 2016, reaching SAR 1.462 billion by the end of 2023.
The Kingdom ranks among the top 10 coffee-consuming nations globally, exceeding 80,000 tons annually. This high per capita consumption translates to an estimated 70,000–90,000 tons of coffee imported into Saudi markets each year.

Saudis spend over SAR 1 billion annually on coffee preparation, prompting significant efforts to increase coffee cultivation and production through establishing 60 model coffee farms on agricultural terraces. These initiatives aim to strengthen food security in rural areas and boost overall agricultural output.
The organizers expressed pride in the presence of the Kingdom at this crucial international forum. They emphasized that Saudi participation extended beyond product displays, also highlighting the nation's efforts to improve sustainable agriculture and promote water efficiency, aligning with the World Water Forum's global objectives.



6,101 Pieces of History: Brazilian Owns World’s Largest Shirt Collection

 Cassio Brandao, 41, holds a German shirt received by Pele during an exchange with player Beckenbauer at the end of a game, in a room filled with clothes racks that in April 2024 made him become a Guinness World Records title holder as the owner of the world's largest collection of soccer shirts, in Sao Paulo, Brazil June 24, 2024. (Reuters)
Cassio Brandao, 41, holds a German shirt received by Pele during an exchange with player Beckenbauer at the end of a game, in a room filled with clothes racks that in April 2024 made him become a Guinness World Records title holder as the owner of the world's largest collection of soccer shirts, in Sao Paulo, Brazil June 24, 2024. (Reuters)
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6,101 Pieces of History: Brazilian Owns World’s Largest Shirt Collection

 Cassio Brandao, 41, holds a German shirt received by Pele during an exchange with player Beckenbauer at the end of a game, in a room filled with clothes racks that in April 2024 made him become a Guinness World Records title holder as the owner of the world's largest collection of soccer shirts, in Sao Paulo, Brazil June 24, 2024. (Reuters)
Cassio Brandao, 41, holds a German shirt received by Pele during an exchange with player Beckenbauer at the end of a game, in a room filled with clothes racks that in April 2024 made him become a Guinness World Records title holder as the owner of the world's largest collection of soccer shirts, in Sao Paulo, Brazil June 24, 2024. (Reuters)

Brazilian Cassio Brandao walks through rooms filled with clothes racks that in April made him a Guinness World Records title holder as the owner of the world's largest collection of soccer shirts.

From rare Pele jerseys to a 1998 World Cup shirt signed by Ronaldo, the 41-year-old Google employee has amassed a total 6,101 shirts since he started collecting them in 2000.

"They are more than just 6,101 pieces of fabric; they are 6,101 stories that help us tell a bit of the history of soccer," Brandao told Reuters as, wearing white gloves, he took out some of his favorite items.

He keeps his shirts at the office of a collectors club he founded in Sao Paulo, "Alambrado Soccer & Culture," bringing together 60 people who trade stories and jerseys - some worth up to 40,000 reais ($7,400).

Brandao's collection includes the shirt worn by Pele when the Brazilian player nicknamed "The King" met Britain's Queen Elizabeth in 1968. She was the guest of honor at a match at Rio de Janeiro's monumental Maracana stadium during an official visit to Brazil.

Pele is the star of the Alambrado office, which is decorated with signed shirts and framed pictures of the late soccer great, who died in December 2022.

"Some shirts can go up to 40,000 reais, but a Pele shirt is priceless," Brandao said.

He also displays a 1994 Brazil jacket worn by seven times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton at last year's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, when the British driver - an honorary Brazilian citizen - asked to borrow the outfit.

A large part of Brandao's collection is dedicated to his favorite club, local side Corinthians, including jerseys from Ronaldo's spell at the club and shirts worn by his favorite player Socrates.

"Each shirt contains a story," Brandao said. "Stories of wins, losses, and overcoming. Stories that document a bit of the world's greatest sport."