Enhanced Ceylon Tea will help realize US $ 20 b export target - Minister

The achievement of Sri Lanka Tea Board on the Ozone Friendly Tea status under the Montreal Protocol is highly commendable. It will help the US $ 20 billion overall export target by 2020 to become a reality, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

"This achievement could certainly lead to a new international market niche while also addressing today's global consumer behaviour trend of 'going green'. In fact, 'Going Green' is the future for Sri Lanka," he said addressing the 'Ozone Friendly Ceylon Tea logo - Ceylon Tea name and Agro-Climatic Regions and Logos" launch event held last week.

"The Branding and Marketing Ceylon Tea Project globally helps the task of achieving the US $ 20 billion export revenue target by 2020 to become a reality. I am also happy to note that Sri Lanka has now set a target of US $ 2.5 billion from tea export earnings in the near future' he said.

Speaking of the Geographical Indications (GI) registration for tea in Sri Lanka, he said: 'The National Intellectual Property Office of Sri Lanka will work with Sri Lanka Tea Board and other stakeholders to ensure speedy finalisation of the Geographical Indicator Branding process.'

The Geographical Indications (GI) registration for tea in Sri Lanka is a pre-requisite prior to applying for international registration of the 'Ceylon Tea' brand.

Sri Lanka Tea Board, in consultation with tea industry stakeholders, finalized the demarcation of tea factories under each agro-climatic region. Suitable descriptive narrations for protection of Ceylon Tea and other seven regional teas were formulated thereafter. As a result, the seven regional tea logos were launched.

They are 'Nuwara Eliya', 'Uda Pussellawa', 'Dimbula', 'Uva', 'Kandy', 'Sabaragamuwa' and 'Ruhuna'. Talking about the positioning of Ceylon Tea in international markets, the Minister said: 'We are very happy that Sri Lanka is the first country to have received this prestigious accreditation for tea. This could certainly lead to a new international market niche while also addressing today's global consumer behaviour trend of 'going green".