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Shri Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, will inaugurate the Stakeholders Conference on Challenges before the Tea Industry here on Thursday, 16th September, 2004.
The two-day Conference (16-17 September) is being jointly organised by the Tea Board of India and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (Department of Commerce).
The Conference will deliberate on important issues of current relevance to the Indian tea industry. These would include: Existing policy & legislation/ regulations pertaining to tea industry and the changes required for facilitating sustainable growth of the tea industry; Re-engineering of the tea industry for achieving sustainable global competitiveness; Long-term steps required for achieving increased productivity and reducing cost of production through (a) replanting and rejuvenation (b) product mix optimisation (orthodox, green tea etc.); Steps required for enhancing productivity and quality in small holdings and improving manufacturing of tea in bought leaf factories with focus on export; improving the Working Condition and Capacity Building of the tea garden workers; WTO/IPR issues and their impact on plantation sector; Future directions of research for sustainable growth of tea industry; Demand creation through (i) marketing mechanism (ii) possible product innovations and (iii) generic & brand promotion; and finally, Role of finance institutions in financing of tea industry.
The Conference will see high-level participation by the Indian tea industry including the United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI), Indian Tea Association (ITA); Tea Association of India (TAI); NABARD; National Productivity Council (NPC); Tea Research Association (TRA) and others.
Tea exports from India amounted to 173 million kgs. valued at Rs. 1,550.92 crore in the calendar year 2003 as against 201 million kgs. valued at Rs. 1,753.39 crore respectively in the year 2002.
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