India to set up tea centre in Cairo

India is planning to set up a tea centre in Cairo to promote exports of the brew to the Middle East.

Indian tea exports rose 26.89% in July alone from a year earlier to 19.11 million kg.

"We're still taking advantage of the Kenyan drought and the markets for Indian tea in neighboring countries like Pakistan have increased significantly," Gangan Boriah, director of  Tea Board, told Arab News.

"A delegation has also gone to Iran for export talks, and we also hope to tap the Egyptian market, where there is a great demand for our tea," he said.

India is projected to produce 930 million kg of tea in 2006 after the output of 928 million kg in 2005. It is forecast to export 195 million kg of tea against 192 million last year.

"Our initial reports suggest that we've done well in August as well and we hope to maintain the momentum and keep tea prices stable," he said in a report yesterday.