Iran to include Indian tea in top import list

The Economic Times

GUWAHATI: Iran has assured India it will include Indian tea in the top category of import items. Tea Board of India has now decided to promote Indian tea in tier-II cities of Iran.

Tea Board took part in the 10th seminar and exhibition of tea producing and exporting countries held in Tehran recently. Board chairman MGVK Bhanu told ET: "Iran presently imports 11 million kg tea from India annually. The idea is to scale it up and promote tea in the tier-II cities of Iran."

The government of Iran has agreed to bring back tea into the top category of import items and streamline the good manufacturing practice certification process, Bhanu said.

Board officials met Iran's senior deputy minister for industry and mines Hamid Reza Movassaghi, members of the Iranian Association of Tea, tea importers, secretary general of Tehran Chamber of Commerce and general director of office for supervision and assessment of food and drinks Seyed Mehdi Miraboutalebi.

Bhanu said the government of Iran admitted that the demands were genuine and will be considered positively. The Board chairman also met the Iranian bankers with the Parsian Bank and discussed the procedures to be followed in opening the letter of credit and various modalities to make the transactions smooth.

Iran traditionally imports Assam orthodox tea. The Assam government has armed the tea industry with concessions for exploring overseas markets like Iran. The state has given concessions for teas exported through the dry port of Inland Container Deport, Amingaon, in Guwahati.