Iraq to buy Ceylon Tea direct from Colombo
View(s):Iraq, the top Middle Eastern buyer of Ceylon Tea, said this week it was prepared to buy directly from Sri Lanka for the first time.
The good news came during two days of trade talks in Baghdad between visiting Sri Lankan Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka Rishad Bathiudeen and Iraqi Minister of Trade, Kheer-allah Hassan babaker Muhammad.
“The two-day-long trade talks held in Baghdad is a great success! It also resulted in Iraq lifting a ban on our coco peat, opening their markets wider for Pure Ceylon Tea and 13 new Sri Lankan exports,” the Sri Lankan Minister was quoted as saying in his ministry media release.
Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce-second from right) leads the Sri Lankan delegation at the 8th session of Iraqi-Sri Lanka Joint Economic Sessions at International Palestine Hotel, Baghdad on 25 February.
The talks were the eighth session of Sri Lanka Iraq Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation (JEC) with Mr. Bathiudeen leading a 16-member strong Lankan delegation. The Iraqi team was led by the Trade Minister.
The Iraqi side encouraged Sri Lankan suppliers to establish direct links with the tea buyers in the Iraqi market.
Tea sales to Iraq are now routed through Dubai, Jordan and Kuwait.