Kolkata, Oct 12: In an attempt to regain the lost market in Russia, a high level delegation of Indian tea producers would visit Moscow and St. Petersburg from October 12 to 16.
"It is a totally producer led delegation comprising representatives of leading companies like Tata Tea, Williamson Magor, AFT and Goodricke among others. We will meet all leading Russian tea importers," said Gautam Bhalla export committee chairman of Indian Tea Association (ITA), the leading body of tea manufacturers in the country.
Bhalla said the director of the tea promotion cell of the Indian tea board in Moscow S Jayarath had arranged meetings with all leading importers.
He said the delegation would be in Moscow for three days and thereafter move to St. Petersburg.

The visit to Russia has been arranged at a time when India's share in that country's tea market has come down significantly.



Russia used to account for as high as 60 per cent of India's total export of tea, but the share had come down significantly over the past three to four years due to its preference for low priced orthodox teas from Sri Lanka.



Meanwhile, India's total tea export till August was down by about 36-37 million kg compared to last year mainly due to steep decline in exports to Russia and Iraq.



"Let's hope that the visit to Russia will help increase India's tea export to Russia," Bhalla said.


Bureau Report