The Ninth World Spice Congress was held in Goa at the Hotel Taj Exotica during 28 to 30 January 2008. The business sessions deliberated on the theme "Harmonization Global Need". The Congress was inaugurated by the then Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Commerce, Govt of India, Mr Jairam Ramesh. The Exhibition of the Congress was inaugurated by Mr V. Jayashankar IAS, Principal Secretary to the Govt of Bihar 151 international delegates and 264 Indian delegates.