SL Tea Board at 4th World Tea & Coffee Eexpo 2016, India
View(s):Buoyed by the success in previous edition, the Sri Lanka Tea Board has placed faith in this annual expo at Mumbai and considers World Tea & Coffee Expo (WTCE) held from October 20 – 22 in Mumbai as the definite platform for doing business with India’s tea and coffee sector, a media release issued by the board stated. In view of the encouraging demand for its tea in India, the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) will be participating in India’s only tea and coffee trade fair, World Tea & Coffee Expo (WTCE), Mumbai through an exclusive pavilion for the second consecutive year.
Representing the Board at the pavilion will be several Sri Lankan tea companies with varieties of tea produce, brands and flavours.
Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Rohan Pethiyagoda said “The Indian markets now offer enormous scope for product innovation as demonstrated by rising consumption of Sri Lankan tea. WTCE is very professionally executed and offers Sri Lankan tea companies a single door opportunity to transact business with India.” The country has a limited domestic consumption which leaves over 90 per cent of produce for exports. This is where India as a market for Sri Lankan tea companies fits in, the release said. The WTCE 2016 is an ideal platform therefore to showcase famous specialty Sri Lankan teas such as Black Tea, CTC Tea, Ceylon Super Pekoe black tea, Ceylon green tea, White tea, Ceylon Silver tip tea, Instant tea etc.
Additionally, India has a barter trade agreement with a few countries for which India regularly imports Sri Lankan tea and further exports to these countries. According to Commerce Ministry data, Sri Lanka exported Indian Rs.382 crore worth of tea to India in the year 2014-15 reflecting a 33 per cent annual growth over the previous year’s 285 crore, the release said. WTCE annually brings domestic and international buyers and suppliers of tea and coffee together in a manner that benefits the industry by enabling forging of new business relationships. The expo also affords an opportunity for the allied industries such as Packaging, Vending Solutions, machineries, accessories and other technologies. Significant activities at the WTCE will include B2B match-making, Workshops and Championships and a High Level 2-day Conference by Industry leaders, academicians and policy makers.