MALAYSIA TEA COMPANIES ENCOURAGED TO TAP INTO GLOBAL TEA TRADE

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysian tea companies are encouraged to
tap into the global trade for the product through trade networks for the
competitive boost and to also become well-known internationally.

The assistant executive director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council
(HKTDC) Raymond Yip said a way for Malaysian tea producers and blenders to make
their presence felt on the international arena is to participate in the
inaugural Hong Kong International Tea Fair.

"The Tea Fair organised by HKTDC and the Chinese Tea Culture International
Exchange Association will be held for three days beginning Aug 13 next year at
the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

"It will be held alongside the annual Food Expo," he told reporters at a
media briefing here Friday.

The Tea Fair will showcase a variety of tea, processed tea, tea products,
tea packaging, processing equipment and testing services, tea ware and the
latest tea technology from all over the world.

According to Yip, though Malaysia was not as yet ranked among the world's
top tea producing countries, it had potential.

"Malaysia is already known for its organic and herbal tea market,"
he said.

"With the government's proactive measures to develop the herbal product
industry under the 9th Malaysia Plan, the country is geared to tap into this new
growth area in the tea trade.

"Malaysian tea producers who have obtained the Halal certification will
enjoy long-term benefits in finding acceptance among the world's largest Muslim
tea-drinking countries such as Libya, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Iran, Morocco
and Indonesia," he said.

Yip said the global demand for tea and related products would be worth RM54
billion (US$1=RM3.54) by 2010 and therefore Malaysia could reap much
opportunities from it.

Among the Malaysian herbs that can be developed as tea for export are
tongkat ali, kacip fatimah, pegaga, misai kucing, hempedu bumi and rosella, he
said.

-- BERNAMA