Azernews.Az

A congress of the Caucasus tea-growers - the first such event in the history of tea-growing in the region - was held in Baku July 11-13.
The goal of the congress was to jointly address related problems in the Caucasus, revitalize the traditions of tea-growing, expand the import and export potential of tea-growing as well as to draw foreign partners and investors to the field. It also aimed to promote forging ties between regional tea-growers and their CIS counterparts.
Participants also discussed the possibility of establishing a joint entity to protect the interests and rights of local tea producers on the basis of the Regional Tea-growers Association.
Speakers at the event emphasized that many are reluctant to engage in the tea-growing industry today, as no long-term loans are allocated to set up an adequate tea plantation. Moreover, it takes seven to eight years to return investment. But farmers say that if the government heeds attention to tea-growing, this business could become highly profitable.
Farmers are also concerned over the low price for purchased tea. Factories are currently buying a kilogram of tea for just 50 Gapiks (about 60 cents), but farmers intend to double the figure. The sale of forged tea brands in the domestic market also inflicts damage to the producers.
A kilogram of tea costs between $1.5 and $25 in world markets.
Over 10,000 tons of tea are consumed in the country annually. Only 10% of the volume is produced domestically, while the rest is imported.
The congress was attended by representatives of the regional countries` government agencies, prominent scholars, experts, tea producers and businessmen. Also participating were tea-growing experts from other states, including Ustin Shteiman, a prominent expert who laid foundation of tea-growing in the USSR and oversaw the field in the Soviet times, as well as heads of major regional tea-growing companies, and president of the Georgian Tea-Growing Association Tengiz Svanidze.
A tea festival was held as part of the event. The attendees had a chance to try tea brands of the Caucasus producers.
The congress was organized by the international group Caucasus Business and Development Network and the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), which was established by the Economic Development Ministry.