Jalpaiguri, June 22: The slashing of import duty on tea by Pakistan, ahead of a crucial visit by an Indian team to boost tea export, has raised hopes among tea planters in north Bengal that things in the tea belt could look up once again.

They are banking on the revival of the export ties between the two neighbours to bail them out of the current slump.

Pakistan has reduced import duty on tea from 25 to 20 per cent. The country has stopped importing Indian tea since the two neighbours engaged in the Kargil conflict. “Earlier, around 60 million kg of tea was exported to Pakistan annually. Now Pakistan’s lifts its tea from Kenya and Sri Lanka,” said N.K. Basu, the principal adviser to the Indian Tea Planters’ Association (ITPA).

Global crop reports about the Kenyan crop failing and Pakistan’s decision to slash import duty on tea has raised hopes among the tea growers.

According to tea experts, Pakistan has always been fond of quality Indian tea. Around 55 per cent of that demand is met by the Indian tea exporters, they informed.

But the situation changed after the war. Kenya and Sri Lanka stepped in to fill the vacuum left by Indian tea suppliers.

“If the export starts again, the tea industry would gain enormously,” Basu said. Pakistan’s annual consumption of tea is around 140 million kg. Kenya supplies around 55 per cent of the country’s total tea import. To revive the trade link with Pakistan, a 14-member delegation comprising tea growers and officials will land in Pakistan for a four-day conclave, beginning June 28.

According to industry sources, the team will visit Karachi and Islamabad to discuss the exports issue with the Pakistanis.

Branch Secretary of the Tea Association of India D.M. Gupta said: “We have received a circular from the Indian Tea Association informing us about a delegation that would visit Pakistan to revive exports between the two countries. We feel the discussion will be fruitful and the market of Pakistan will once again open for us.”

According to the experts, the sudden halt in export of tea to Pakistan was one of the main reasons of the slump prevailing in the industry.

Asked about the deduction in import duty, the experts of north Bengal said it reflected the willingness of Pakistan to resume ties with India. “It is good news for us, especially at a time when an Indian delegation is headed for Pakistan. The delegation is likely to get a congenial atmosphere for discussion there. If the talks are successful and the export link is revived, the Indian tea industry would get the much-needed boost,” added Basu.