Iran wants to become SL’s tea hub

Iran wants to be the Ceylon Tea’s transshipment hub for Central Asia, visiting Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs H.E. Abbas Araghchi said at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce yesterday.

The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister arrived in the country to discuss the trade relationship between two countries and also to deliver a Letter of Invitation to the Sri Lankan President   to attend the XVI Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Non-Alighted Movement, Tehran, from 30-31st August, 2012.


“We are surrounded by strong Central Asian market of more than 300 Mn people who demand, just as own our Iranian market, more and more Ceylon Tea. I stress that Ceylon Tea export volumes to Iran can now be increased dramatically due to the growing demand. Also we can quench Central Asia’s tea thirst by acting as the Ceylon Tea hub for the region”, Deputy Foreign Minister said.

The Deputy Foreign Minister also said that “We too are encouraged by growing trade volumes with Sri Lanka. The trade volumes between Iran and Asian countries have been growing and our bilateral trade with Sri Lanka too is on the rise”.