Guwahati: India will mark the implementation of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the ceremonial flagging of the first consignment of tea exports to the United Kingdom on Wednesday, signalling the beginning of a new chapter for one of the country’s oldest export industries.
The Tea Board of India will organise the flag-off ceremony at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata, on July 15 to commemorate the trade pact coming into force. Senior officials from the Tea Board, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Customs, tea exporters and industry representatives are expected to attend the event.
The ceremony is being viewed as a symbolic milestone for the Indian tea industry, with the UK remaining one of its most significant overseas markets. Industry stakeholders expect the free trade agreement to improve market access, enhance the competitiveness of Indian tea and provide fresh momentum to exports.
According to the Tea Board, the first consignment being flagged off under the new trade framework reaffirms India’s commitment to expanding its global tea footprint and strengthening bilateral trade with the United Kingdom.
The event comes at a crucial time for the tea sector, which has been seeking improved access to premium international markets amid rising competition from other tea-producing countries.
The flag-off ceremony is scheduled for 3.30 pm on Wednesday at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata.