In line with the Global Tea Party held to commemorate the 150 years of Sri Lankan Tea Industry, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai held its event of Global Tea Party at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Dubai on grand scale. Over 100 foreign and local participants, representing Diplomatic Corps, leading businesses operated in Dubai, international media and the global tea industry participated at the event, aimed at promoting Sri Lankan Tea in the UAE, the largest re-exporter of tea in the world.
Delivering the welcome speech, the Consul General Charitha Yattogoda, while welcoming the guests who were present at the event, briefed the gathering about the importance of the tea industry from the Sri Lankan perspective, highlighting the current dynamics of the Ceylon Tea in the global market with special emphasis on the UAE market. It was followed by a comprehensive presentation of the tea industry of Sri Lanka made by Mr. Hasitha De Alwis, the Minister (Tea Promotion) in the Consulate General. In addition, there was also a presentation representing the UAE Tea Trade, done by Mr. Omid Aineichi, from Impra brand Tea.
With a view to providing the guests a glimpse of long standing tea culture prevailing in Sri Lanka, dances were performed by a group of professional Sri Lankan cultural dancers in Dubai which included specially designed dances imitating the act of tea plucking. Moreover, a short video clip of the Sri Lankan cricketing star Kumar Sangakkara explaining the health benefits and the reasons why the Ceylon Tea should be chosen was screened during the event. The Consul General also invited the distinguished guests present at the event, including H.E. the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the UAE, to join with him for a cake cutting event, in celebration of 150 years of Ceylon Tea. The Consuls General and diplomats representing Italy, India, Iran, China, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Germany, USA, Singapore, and Kuwait were present at this event, in addition to the representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Dubai.
The guests were thereafter given the opportunity to taste the Ceylon Tea coming from seven main tea growing regions in Sri Lanka namely, Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula, Uda Pussallawa, Kandy, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and Ruhuna, displayed attractively on seven separate tables, along with the descriptions related to teas from each region, highlighting their exclusive characteristics. The guests were also given the rare opportunity of tasting the most expensive Ceylon Teas of the Silver Tips and the Golden Tips.
Concluding the event, guests were served with a light dinner consisted of special Sri Lankan food including, Milk Rice, Seeni
Sambol, Lunu Miris, cutlets, Koththu roti and Egg hoppers. Further, all the guests attended the event were offered with a gift pack of exclusive Ceylon Teas in promoting Sri Lankan tea.
In parallel to the event, arrangements were also made through Fakih Group of companies to conduct special Ceylon tea tasting sessions at their Antique Museum Study centre in Dubai and Pick and Pay shopping center in Abu Dhabi during the time period of 17.00hrs to 19.00hrs in a bid to promote Ceylon Tea in UAE.
The UAE is a key market for tea and is recognized as the world’s largest re-exporter of tea. In the last few years, Sri Lanka’s market share in UAE has been around 30%. Dubai, as a major trading center has been a spring board for transshipment of Ceylon Teas to many destinations in the Middle East, North Africa and CIS countries.
Consulate General of Sri Lanka Dubai & Northern Emirates, UAE 10/07/2017