The 2025 Guangdong Provincial Barista Vocational Skills Competition, which concluded on November 30 in Jiangmen, has spotlighted the region's thriving coffee culture and skilled young workforce. Over three days, 68 competitors from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao demonstrated cutting-edge brewing techniques, with international delegates from Sri Lanka, Iran, and Fiji observing the event ahead of December's high-profile 'Understanding China' Conference in Guangzhou.
Cross-Border Collaboration Brews Opportunity
The competition served as a platform for cultural exchange, with visiting journalists and diplomats sampling Jiangmen's specialty coffee varieties. Local organizers emphasized the event's role in addressing youth employment through vocational training programs that have produced 4,200 certified baristas since 2020.
Economic Implications
Jiangmen's coffee sector, now home to over 1,200 related businesses, saw exports grow 18% year-on-year in 2025. The presence of international observers has sparked discussions about potential trade partnerships, particularly with Fiji's emerging coffee market.
