Delegates offered a taste of Ilam tea at Sagarmatha Sambaad

Kathmandu, May 18: The delegates of the Sagarmatha Sambaad were engaged not only in a flurry of sessions and discussions during the three-days of the event, they were also offered a taste of organic tea from Ilam. 

A fresh tea exhibition stall has been set up at the Hotel Soaltee, the venue of the Sambaad under the coordination of Suryaodaya Municipality, where the delegates can visit and try fresh organic tea during the break time and buy a packet or two as souvenir from Nepal. 

The chairman of Ilam Tea Station, Prajwal Pradhan, mentioned that arrangements have been made for tasting various products and flavours of tea at the stall.

"Our tea exhibition attracted a lot of foreign and domestic visitors. They tasted various brands of tea and we feel that this has helped in promoting Nepali tea in the global market," said Pradhan, adding that he feels that such exhibitions should be organized at international conferences like this one for the publicity of Nepali tea.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, Deepak Joshi, mentioned that they have facilitated the promotion of Nepal's tea in the world. 

Not only this, but they also presented organic tea from Ilam as a gift to the foreign guests and panelists participating in this dialogue. This was sponsored by the Nepal Tourism Board.

The idea of managing a 'tea tasting and exhibition stall' during the Sagarmatha Sambaad was broached by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, drawing from the positive response the foreign ambassadors and guests gave to a similar event during a 'retreat' the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized for them in Ilam on April 13, on the eve of the Nepali New Year 2082 BS.  

The retreat was organized in honour of Heads of foreign missions and representatives of various international organizations and ambassadors in Nepal.

Coincidentally, the government had already started preparations for the Sagarmatha Sambaad around that time.

Therefore, Minister Rana also suggested that since various countries and international organizations will be attending the dialogue programme, arrangements should be made to hold a tea-tasting ceremony at the venue of the Sagarmatha Sambaad.

On the occasion, Minister Rana, in her capacity as the chairperson of the Sagarmatha Sambaad Management Committee, had directed the bodies concerned to make arrangements for organizing a similar tea-tasting and exhibition at the venue of Sagarmatha Sambaad so that various international representatives and guests present there will get to experience the true taste of Nepali organic tea while also participating in the dialogue, which will help in establishing Nepali tea in the global market.  (RSS)