Iran craves for Pure Ceylon Tea

* Extends $ 2 m in ODI to Sri Lanka this year

* Looking to partner marine port construction

Iran wants to be Ceylon Tea's transshipment hub for Central Asia and Ceylon Tea export volumes to Iran can now be increased dramatically due to the growing demand. “We are surrounded by strong Central Asian market of more than 300 million people who demand, just as own our Iranian market, more and more Ceylon Tea. Also we can quench Central Asia's tea thirst by acting as the Ceylon Tea hub for the region,” said visiting Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs Abbas Araghchi on May 29 at the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Colombo 3.

An Arab national tasting the falvour of Ceylon Tea at a Sri Lankan tea promotion at the recently concluded Arabian Travel Mart Picture by Shirajiv Sirimane

Araghchi make a courtesy call on Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka on May 29 at the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Colombo 3. Accompanying Araghchi were members of his delegation and Iran's Ambassador to Colombo Mahmud Rahimi Gorji.

According to the Department of Commerce, Sri Lanka is the largest tea supplier to Iran and 93% of Sri Lanka’s exports to Iran constitute of tea (2010), followed by coconuts and cashew, trailers semi-trailers (not mechanically propelled) and parts, lead oxides (read lead and orange lead), palm oil and its fractions, optical, photographic, medical instruments and parts. Bilateral trade between both countries continue to show a positive trend specially from 2002 to 2011. Total trade between the two countries surpassed US $ 1 million in 2008 and in 2011 it rose to US $ 1619 million.

The balance of trade between two countries has heavily and continuously been in favour of Iran over the years. Petroleum oils remain the most important item of imports from Iran followed by wheat and meslin, urea, apparatus for transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, palm oil and its fractions and food preparations have also gained importance during last few years.

“The Department of Commerce under my ministry is doing the preliminary work to establish Iran - Sri Lanka Joint Investment Promotion Committee with the participation of Iran Foreign Investment Company on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Board of Investment of Sri Lanka on behalf of Sri Lanka,” he said.

Araghchi added, “We too are encouraged by growing trade volumes with Sri Lanka. The trade volumes between Iran and Asian countries have been growing and our bilateral trade with Sri Lanka too is on the rise. As for investment here, we have identified opportunities in marine port construction and development and as a result are especially keen on port projects on a partnership basis. I stress that Sri Lanka and Iran should strengthen trade cooperation at business to business level as well. We are looking to form business partnerships with Sri Lankan firms on construction projects as I stressed and a delegation from the Iranian construction firm ‘Omran Rahat’ is now in Colombo with me for this purpose.

We also want to extend $ two million in ODI to Sri Lanka this year. Also, I am pleased to inform that Iran is taking Pure Ceylon Tea very seriously.”