Tata Global Beverages MD visits Watawala Plantations

Harish Bhat

The partnership between Tata Global Beverages and Watawala Plantation PLC has created a platform for India to share the new clones and variants of teas they have developed with the Sri Lankan tea industry, said Managing Director of Tata Global Beverages Limited, Harish Bhat who was on a visit to Sri Lanka.

India's tea industry, he said focused mostly on innovation and research.

India's Tea Board, last week allocated Rs 1.5 b towards research and development. It was also reported that Rs. 200 m would be spent on developing weather resistant tea clones.

"The foundation of our partnership with Watawala Plantations is nothing but trust and transparency. We have a lot to share with each other. This partnership allows the Indian tea industry to share its commitment towards technology and innovation with Sri Lanka," he said.

Tata Global Beverages which is involved in Sri Lanka's tea industry has a joint venture with Estate Management Services (Private) Limited, the company which manages the Sunshine Holdings subsidiary, Watawala Plantations PLC. Bhat, a veteran of the industry who has been with the Tata group for nearly 25 years, is also a board director of Watawala Plantations PLC.