In an effort to boost India's tea export, a delegation from the Tea Board is on a tour to Cairo for finalising the opening of a Tea Marketing Centre in the Egyptian capital.

Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh told Commodity Online that the Marketing Centre in Egypt, which is the thrust market after Pakistan, would become operational in three months' time.

The delegation will have members from Upasi and India Tea Trade Association apart from the Tea Board, he said.

Ramesh was in Kerala to present the Golden Leaf India Awards: Southern Tea Competition.

The minister added that another Tea Board delegation would be visiting Pakistan from April 14-15 for negotiations on movement of tea on land route via the Wagah boarder. At present, Pakistan imports 16 million kg tea from India.

The Tea Board is identifying new markets for tea and special thrust is being given to Iran, Egypt and Pakistan. Iraq is now the single largest market for Indian tea. Exports to Russia have continued to decline following the change in consumer preference of late for orthodox tea from CTC teas.

He said at present the production of orthodox tea in the country was only 10 per cent of the total output and given the growing demand for it India has decided to have a five-year plan to increase the output of orthodox tea from 80 mkg to 120 mkg. The Tea Board, he said, will look at the finalisation of the incentives needed for this purpose.