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Kathmandu Thursday April 26, 2001 Baishakh 13, 2058.
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Agro Business
Interface 2001 kicks off
Post Report
KATHMANDU, April 25- With the theme "Tea
for economy, employment and environment", a three-day Agro Business Interface
2001-Tea Event, kicked off Wednesday amidst much fan fare here at the Birendra
International Convention Centre.
The first of its kind in Nepal, Agro Business
Interface 2001, jointly organized by the Agro Enterprise Center (AEC), Federation of
Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), National Tea and Coffee Development
Board, Nepal Tea Planters Association, Nepal Tea Association and Himalayan Orthodox Tea
Producers Association, the historic event highlighted the key areas of employment
opportunities, agricultural development and sustainable environment development through
the development of tea industry.
Chief Guest of the occasion, Chakra Prasad
Bastola, Minister for Foreign Affairs said that with the coming in of the much awaited tea
policy a few months back and with the growing interest of producers and traders, the time
is just right for repositioning Nepal in the global tea map. "We can be the leader of
organic tea," he added.
On the same occasion, Suraj Vaidya, Chairman
of AEC said, "The event is can act as a dynamic forum to provide excellent
opportunities in developing business and ideas amongst Nepali investors and existing tea
entrepreneurs."
Highlighting the new tea policy, Vaidya said
the Industrial Enterprise Act has given a national priority status to tea industry and
that there is tremendous potential for the expansion of tea plantation in the hills and
the Terai.
Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, President of FNCCI
said, tea sector which currently employs 22,000 people is expected to provide employment
close to 80,000 people in the future, with an estimated 7.5 billion rupees worth of tea
production.
From 8 million kg in 2001, the production of
tea is expected to shoot up by 13 million kg by the year 2005. The policy spells out an
equal partnership between the public and the private sector enterprises through very
liberal investment policy.
Projecting the expansion of plantation areas
for the orthodox tea, known to the world for its unique flavour and taste, experts said
that a total of 7000 hectares of land will be brought under plantation by 2005 up from
3500 hectares in 2000.
Citing the lack of proper planning
irrespective of the existence of conducive climate and topography like Darjeeling,
Shrestha said, tea in eastern hill of Nepal has not been able to meet quantitative
standards despite the production of high quality tea. "The government has to pay more
attention," he added.
The three-day event will address issues ranging
from business opportunities, collaboration and joint ventures through the intercourse
between the representatives of world’s leading tea producing nations- India, Sri
Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal.
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