According to Tengiz Svanidze, President of the Tea Producers Association, Georgian tea producers are facing sales problems both on local and export markets.
He notes if activity in the market increases, producers can fully meet both local demand and send the product for export.
Svanidze believes that focus should be laid on marketing and more assistance to state businesses.
"In Georgia, chain markets offer both Georgian and imported tea products, but Georgian tea accounts for only 25% of the total sales. This is not because the quality or design of Georgian tea is inferior to the imported but because of the price difference.
Imports are mostly brought at dumping prices and Georgian tea producers cannot sell their products even at cost price.
The Government of Georgia launched a state program to rehabilitate the country's tea plantations to encourage development of tea production in the country. It did its job. Some of the abandoned tea plantations have been rehabilitated, but the program has run its course. Owners of rehabilitated plantations, due to delays in Georgian tea sales, cannot use them to their fullest. In the end, the restored plantations will go wild again.
According to statistics, Georgia consumes 1 000-1 200 tons of products - Georgian entrepreneurs can freely produce this amount. In case of more assistance, we can compete seriously with imports.
There is a lot of demand from abroad, however, various technical issues hamper exports. If we resolve the marketing issues with which we have already addressed the ministry, exports will also become more active.", stresses Tengiz Svanadze.
