The New Nation - Internet Edition

Talha Bin Habib

The volume of the export of tea has increased in the last fiscal year due to its high demand in the international market.

Production of high quality of tea and competitive prices of Bangladeshi brand tea encouraged foreign buyers to import it in a large quantity from the country, according to people associated with tea industry.

Government patronisation, development of infrastructure and uninterrupted supply of power and active role of diplomatic missions in abroad would significantly help further increase of tea export in other countries, they noted.

Prices of tea in the international markets have notably increased in recent years due to its high demand in United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and several Middle Eastern countries.

Bangladesh has exported tea worth $ 13.52 million dollars from July, 2007 to March this year. The total earnings from tea export stood at $ 6.94 million dollars in the 2006-07 fiscal, market sources said.

The overall production of tea has increased by 2.5 per cent surpassing the target.

Its production is likely to increase substantially if there is good rainfall and the tea gardens get uninterrupted supply of irrigation water, sources added.

When contacted, some tea garden owners and leading tea traders said government patronisation, development of infrastructure and uninterrupted supply of power to the gardens and active role of diplomatic missions abroad would significantly help further increase of tea export to other countries.