CALCUTTA. Feb 1: The Indian Tea Association (ITA) has strongly opposed the government s proposal for import ing tea for re-export and for domestic use. saying that it will severely affect the growth of the Indian tea Industry, re ports PTI,

Briefing newsmen here today. the ITA Vice-Chairman S K Bhasin said that the move would transmit undesirable signals to the Indigenous tea industry as imports would invariably serve to depress the export sentiments for the Indian tea and would fere versibly impair future Invest ment In the industry .

The ITA's strong reaction came In the wake _ of Qommerce Ministry s move to sought tea industry’s view* on the oriented unit or an export processing zone to allow for re-exports In bulk as well

Bhasin said that permission for Import of tea from coun tries like Shri Lanka or Kenya would only be permitting back door entry for the imports of cheap, tea* into India.