Plea to set up Tea Park in Kochi.

Cochin Port Trust has urged the Tea Board to set up a Tea Park at the port as adequate land is available for the project.

According to a press release, the trust chairman G. Senthilvel had a meeting in Coonoor recently with Tea Board Executive Director C. Paulrasu. They also had discussions with tea exporters and logistics service providers.

Mr. Senthilvel explained the efforts taken for tea exports through Kochi port – a dedicated train service from Irugur to Vallarpadam, green channel at Walayar check-post for self-sealed and Excise-sealed containers.

He said setting up a Tea Park at the port would bring down the logistics cost for the exporters and increase their returns. Mr. Paulrasu said a Tea Park was coming up at Mettupalayam.

The port trust chairman also said that the bulk of the tea handled in south India was through the Kochi port. There was a weekly mainline direct shipping service from Kochi to destinations such as Europe, China, SAARC countries and the west Asian countries.

This gave savings in cost and time to the exporters.

THE HINDU