Int'l Tea Producers' Forum established

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

An International Tea Producers' Forum was formed yesterday in Colombo in collaboration with major tea producing countries, to promote sustainability of the tea industry on an international footing.

The countries, India, China, Kenya, Rwanda, Indonesia, Malawi and Iran participated in the forum's first meeting in Colombo. The meeting was presided over by Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe.

The meeting was reportedly organized in Sri Lanka as a result of poor support extended for holding it in Rome by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in terms of providing security and other facilities for its high level participants.

Sources said that the meeting did not receive much support from the FAO in comparison with the support they have extended to the International Coffee Association for similar activities.

Minister Samarasinghe said Kenya, Indonesia and India had expressed their willingness to hold the meeting in their countries, but Sri Lanka as the Chair of the FAO Inter Governmental Group (IGG) decided to hold the meeting in Sri Lanka.

The International Tea Producers Forum (ITPF) was established in collaboration with ministerial representatives from India, China, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Indonesia, Iran and Burma. They met yesterday in Colombo on the invitation of Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, to form the International Tea Producers Forum.

The ministers in charge of tea in India, Indonesia, China, Kenya, Malawi and Rwanda yesterday thanked the Sri Lankan government for initiating action for the establishment of the International Tea Producers Forum.

The objective of the ITPF is to promote the interests of tea producing countries.

They said the Sri Lankan government has played a historic role in establishing the ITPF for the promotion of the tea industry.

The Constitution of the International Tea Producers' Forum was adopted by the members of tea producing countries. FAO representatives were also present.

Sri Lanka Tea Board chairman Janaki Kuruppu said the forum will deliberate and evolve collective solutions for problems affecting tea producers.

It will provide technical co-operation, sharing technology and expertise by member countries, she said.