Kathmandu, Feb 5: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has pledged to make all possible efforts to promote and encourage the tea industry including taking initiatives to resolve the problems seen in tea export to India.
The commitment from the PM came in the backdrop of Indian authorities proposing mandatory auction of Nepali tea for import to India.
PM Oli reaffirmed his commitment while receiving a memorandum from the representatives of tea producers' associations in Koshi, Jhapa and Ilam districts along with the Provincial Tea Coordination Committee at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar today.
Reiterating to address problems through both formal and informal mechanisms, the Prime Minister urged the tea entrepreneurs to focus on the promotion and expansion of market for the Nepali tea.
On the occasion, the Committee's Chairperson Aditya Parajuli drew the attention of the government towards the prospects of the negative impact of the proposed policy arrangement in India for mandatory auction for tea imported from Nepal on the Nepali tea entrepreneurs.
He also said that the provision could further hamper the foreign currency earnings for Nepal from the trade of tea as Nepal had been collecting over Rs 6 billion annually in revenue from the export of Nepali tea.
The representatives handing over the memo to the PM also demanded the operation of an auction centre, immediate provision of subsidies in the export of Nepali tea and easy and smooth electricity supply in the tea estate among others. (RSS)
