Virtual tea conclave from Sept 1

GUWAHATI: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will organise a first-of-its-kind virtual tea conclave from September 1 to November 30 under the banner "Chai Piyo Swasth Raho".
The conclave will have digital conferences, exhibition of different varieties of tea and products related to the tea industry and will also host a buyer-seller meet. Bidyananda Barkakoty, chairman, CII North East Tea Panel, said the body, in the past, has organized eight tea conclaves - five in Siliguri and two in Guwahati.
"Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, this tea conclave will be a virtual one. There will be virtual stalls, similar to regular exhibitions. Producers and manufacturers will be able to display their products in the stalls. Buyers and tea connoisseurs can visit the stalls. During this pandemic, this exclusive virtual platform for tea will open up the horizon of business linkages, both nationally and internationally," he added.
There will also be a buyers and sellers meet, both business-to-business and business-to-customer. The platform will be a good opportunity to launch new products for start-ups and innovators, the chairman informed.
Barkakoty said the digital conclave will be attended by central and state governments' policy makers, tea board officials, tea producers, small tea growers, tea buyers and traders, tea packateers, tea brokers, tea wholesalers, tea retailers and tea cafes, tea machinery manufacturers, tea implements manufacturers, any products related to tea, tea research organisations, tea auction organisers, educational institutes, tea associations, tea customers & general public, banks and financial institutions, among others. Overseas delegates will also be invited to participate in this tea conclave.
The organising committee has been formed and is headed by Bidyananda Barkakoty, Ravi Agarwal and Dinesh Bihani. The online registration process will start soon, Borkakoty said.