STAFF REPORTER, GUWAHATI:
Northeastern Tea Promotion & Revival: A virtual business-to-business (B2B) meeting was conducted on November 25 by Indian Chamber of Commerce in association Tea Board of India to promote the tea from North Eastern India in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Also Read - Tea Board India Drafts SOP to Ensure Leaves Quality while Transportation
The meeting had participation from industry captains, senior government officials, the tea traders, tea blenders and all relevant stakeholders.
In his welcome address, Mahesh Kumar Saharia, Chairman, Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), North East Chapter elaborated on the deep commitment of ICC towards the development of North East India. He highlighted the vision document prepared by Indian Chamber of Commerce and the recent acknowledgement by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he addressed the Chamber about the contribution of the organization towards North East.
Saharia said that despite being the largest black tea producer in the world, the per capita consumption of tea in India is low @ 0.786 kg per year in comparison with the other countries. He said the objective of series of webinar is to identify the causes and find solution for low consumptions in certain Sates though tea is quiet popular there.
Saharia mentioned that COVID-19 has brought to focus the health related properties of tea particularly the immunity boosting properties of Assam tea.
Prabhat Bezbarua, Chairman, Tea Board of India said about creating new national and international markets for tea from North East. He suggested for a bottom up approach by improving the quality of tea by the producers, marketers and blenders so that they can fetch a good price. He said that when mixed with ingredients like tulsi, turmeric and other herbs, tea is the healthiest drink in the world having the highest no of antioxidants.
Giridhara Rao, Joint Director of Industries department of Government of India welcomed the tea sellers from North East to tie up with the NGOs of Andhra Pradesh to promote packaging and branding of Assam Tea.