Russia signs Tea contract with Bengal worth $US 2 million

Kolkata, Jul 10 (UNI) India will export tea worth two million US dollars to Russia, almost a decade after the erstwhile Soviet Union country had frozen import of Indian brew on quality standard, Confederation of Indian Industry said today.

The shipment begins this month.

This follows a contract signed between Russia and CII ( North Bengal) in Siliguri, the commerical tea hub of North Bengal, today.

The signing was an outcome of a CII's 11-member tour of Russia's Teastan factory and called on Abramov Valery and Director General Sergey F Sakib Gareyer in November last.

The samples of CTC, Darjeeling, Dooars and Terai tea the delegation had taken during tour of Russia had worked wonder and since then dialogues continued until the signing of the deal was done today, CII sources said.

Prof Nikolay D Bublik, director UFA Affiliate of all Russian Distance Finance and Economics Initiative, who was communicating with Teastan and Ministry of External Affairs Russia and after samples were sent for testing in that country it was approved by Teastan, a CII release said.

The first consignment will be sent to Russia this month which will be followed by alternative shipment.

The total value of the contract is USD 2,000,000.

The first consignment will be sent in the name of K.B.Tea Pvt ltd and after consignment will be despatched in the name of North Bengal UFA Expost Pvt Ltd.

CII sources said the initiative taken by it would improve bilateral relations between India and Russia as well as strengthen ties between the two countries.

UNI PC KK RN1931