KATHMANDU: Delegates attending the three-day Sagarmatha Sambaad were not only immersed in high-level discussions and sessions, but were also treated to the authentic taste of organic Ilam tea.
A dedicated tea exhibition stall, coordinated by Suryaodaya Municipality, was set up at Hotel Soaltee, the event venue. The stall invited participants to sample a variety of fresh organic teas during their breaks and offered them the opportunity to purchase packets as souvenirs from Nepal.
Prajwal Pradhan, Chairman of Ilam Tea Station, shared that visitors were able to taste a range of products and flavors at the stall.
“Our tea exhibition drew considerable interest from both foreign and domestic delegates. Many sampled the different varieties of Nepali tea, which we believe helps promote our tea on the international stage,” said Pradhan.
He emphasized the importance of hosting similar exhibitions at global events to boost awareness and demand for Nepali tea.
Deepak Joshi, Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, noted that the board had facilitated the promotion of Nepali tea to the international audience. In addition to the tasting stall, organic Ilam tea was also presented as a gift to foreign guests and panelists—a gesture sponsored by the Nepal Tourism Board.
The idea of hosting a tea-tasting and exhibition stall during the Sagarmatha Sambaad was initiated by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana.
Her suggestion was inspired by the enthusiastic response received during a similar event held on April 13 in Ilam, organized as a retreat for foreign ambassadors and representatives of international organizations on the eve of the Nepali New Year 2082 BS.
Coinciding with the government’s preparations for the Sagarmatha Sambaad, Minister Rana proposed that a tea-tasting initiative be included in the dialogue program to showcase Nepal’s tea culture to international delegates.
In her capacity as Chairperson of the Sagarmatha Sambaad Management Committee, Minister Rana instructed the relevant authorities to ensure the stall was set up at the main venue.
The goal was to give guests a meaningful cultural experience and help establish Nepali organic tea as a global brand, complementing the broader objectives of the dialogue.
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