Thank you China for smoking: Indian tobacco heads to biggest market

Commerce Department has secured market access rights for Indian tobacco in China- the global leader in smoking

Hemmed in by increasingly restrictive policies and changing social mindset, Indian tobacco growers may find solace soon in sending out shipments to China, the nation with the highest number of smokers globally.

The decision was taken during a two-day visit by Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan to Beijing last week, the government said on Monday. In a meeting with Zhang Jiwen, Vice Minister of General Administration of China Customs (GACC), India has pushed rights for market access and sought to calm Chinese concerns over quarantine issues for agriculture and allied products.

Quality tobacco on a par with international standards is available