E-auctions of tea launched in India
The Tea Board of India has launched the first e-auction of tea in the headquarters of countrys largest tea auction firm, J Thomas & Co. The country has seven auction centers located at Guwahati, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Kolkata, Coimbatore, Coonoor and Kochi, where the online trading platform will be gradually introduced throughout December and January. Organizers hope the project will bring transparency in the auction system and guarantee fair prices for sellers. India has an export target of 210 million kilograms of tea for 2009.