The Hindu Business Line : Tea delegation to visit Pak in April

CLOSE on the heels of the Indian cricket team, another Indian team will be visiting Pakistan in the first week of April. However, unlike the cricketers, this will be their second visit to the neighbour in the last nine months.

Members of the Indian Tea Association will be part of a big delegation to Pakistan. Some of their industry colleagues and members of the rival tea organisation, Tea Association of India will also be a part of the team.

According to Mr C.K. Dhanuka, Chairman of the Indian Tea Association, the delegation will be visiting Pakistan from April 6 to 8. Like the Indian cricket team, this team has drafted a slogan for itself too: "Import more tea from India."

Representatives of tea majors like Tata Tea, Hindustan Lever, Williamson Magor, Eveready, Goodricke, Warren Tea will be a part of this delegation, which is scheduled to meet the officials of the Pakistan Tea Association, Pakistani tea importers and traders.

When asked whether cricket will mingle with business, Mr Dhanuka laughed. "By the time we are reaching Pakistan, the one-dayers will be over. I don't know whether the members will have enough time to watch the five-day test matches", he told Business Line.

It may be noted that after a gap of many years, Indian Tea Association made a historical visit to Pakistan in July, last year. An important memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Indian and the Pakistani tea organisations.

Thereafter, Indian tea exports to Pakistan drastically improved. From a negligible amount it increased to around six million kg in 2003. Pakistan, which consumes approximately 150 million kg of tea every year, is the third largest importer of tea after Russia and the UK.

Kenyans hold 65-70 per cent market share in Pakistan, which is mostly CTC-oriented. Like the Indian cricketers, the tea companies are most eager to leave their mark in that country.

The Tea Board has asked the tea producers to concentrate on Pakistan and grab significant market shares. It is important because Indian tea producers have lost export markets in Iraq, Russia and others.

Though north Indian tea gardens have already made its presence felt in the Pakistani market, South Indian producers are yet to make a headway. They are not participating in this delegation. Mr Dhanuka said that a separate team from South would be visiting Pakistan soon.