Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota and India’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Binaya S. Pradhan, jointly inaugurated the India Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show 2025 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York. The pavilion showcases India’s culinary strengths and commemorates 200 years of Assam Tea.
Speaking at the event, Chief Secretary Kota said the pavilion not only highlights India’s tea heritage but also strengthens India–US ties. He noted that Assam Tea, first cultivated in 1823 along the Brahmaputra, has become a global symbol of flavour and tradition, supporting over a million livelihoods.
In 2024–25, Assam exported over 100 million kilograms of tea to more than 90 countries, generating close to $285 million. Major export destinations included the United Kingdom, Russia, UAE, Germany, Iraq, and China. The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, India’s largest by volume, plays a key role in global tea trade with over 250 million kilograms auctioned annually through a digital platform
Over the next three days, the Indian delegation aims to promote collaboration with U.S. partners in tea research, product innovation, sustainability practices, supply chain development, and tea tourism. Plans include showcasing tea estate experiences and cultural tourism in Assam.
The Assam Government also outlined initiatives to deepen India–US partnerships in areas such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and academic collaboration. Key programmes include the ‘Heritage to Wellness’ Tea Showcase across the U.S., and the India–USA Specialty Tea & Wellness Summit.
Leading Indian tea companies including Tata, Unilever, Goodricke, Luxmi, and the Indian Tea Association are participating in the event. The delegation also highlights the growing role of Assam’s tea startups and small tea growers.
Chief Secretary Kota shared that the idea to commemorate the 200-year journey of Assam Tea in New York was proposed earlier this year during a discussion between Ambassador Pradhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He expressed appreciation to the Consulate General of India, the Tea Board of India, ITPO, and other partners for their support in organising the celebration.
