In an effort to nurture the important African market, the Indian Tea Association plans to send a delegation to Cairo in June-end. The delegation will be headed by Tea Board Chairman M.G.V.K. Bhanu.
A CTC tea consumer, Egypt imported nearly 9 million kg Indian tea, up from an average of 5-6 mkg a year, last year due to drop in Kenya output.
Industry sources, however, expect the competition to be rife this year in the face of early indications of a bumper crop in Kenya.
During the stay in Cairo, the delegation will meet with the buyers. Egypt is one of the five countries identified by the Tea Board for a sustained export focus.
The other countries are Russia, Kazakhstan, the US and Iran.