Global body of tea producing nations

KOLKATA: Leading tea producers such as India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, China and Vietnam have decided to set up a body with an aim to co-ordinate among themselves for better functioning of the industry in member countries. The international body is slated to be floated later this year.

Indian Tea board chairman Basudeb Banerjee on Saturday said that an inter-governmental group under the aegis of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) had decided to set up an international body of tea producing nations.

He was talking to newspersons on the sidelines of the 125th AGM of Indian Tea Association.

“This international body will not be a cartel but will be coordinating in nature. The body will also regulate the quantity and quality of tea produced in various countries,” said Banerjee. The Tea Board chairman feels the competitiveness of Indian tea needs to be enhanced substantially for increasing penetration in the world tea market.

Economic Times