core sector communique

Calcutta Tea Traders Association (CTTA)

The Calcutta Tea Traders Association (CTTA) was constituted on 15^th September 1886 to primarily organize the public tea auctions in Calcutta. Its emblem comprises three interlocked rings personifying the trinity of buyers, brokers and sellers of tea as its constituent.

It is a matter of great pride that the Association is celebrating its completion of 125 years now under the stewardship of Mrs. Sangeeta Kichlu, the Chairperson, who is the Vice President of Jay Shree Tea & Industries Ltd. -  a BK Birla Group outfit.

The Kolkata Auction Centre is the oldest surviving auction centre in the world, with first teas coming under the hammer in 1861. It is not only the largest auction centre in the country, but the only centre where the entire range of Indian teas are on offer, from Darjeeling to Nilgiris.

On the occasion, Mrs. Kichlu stated that CTTA has 7 broker members (auctioneers), 437 buyer members and 700 seller members. There are 58 warehouses with a total area of 1.8 mn. Sq. ft. which are registered with CTTA for storage of teas intended for sale through the Kolkata Auctions.

Mrs. Kichlu with her 30 years of stint in the tea industry further stated that it was joyous moment for all when the electronic auction of tea was introduced in the Kolkata in the year 2009 for all varieties of tea except Darjeeling teas which are still sold in the manual outcry method.

The business of CTTA is managed by a General Committee comprising of 5 seller members, 5 buyer members and 5 broker members. At the Annual General Committee, the members of the General Committees elect the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Association who hold office till the next AGM. The General Committee is assisted by several Sub-committees.

To commemorate the 125^th year, CTTA has arranged a sports meet and business session between 8^th and 10^th February 2012, at Calcutta’s leading clubs with the final night at Royal Calcutta Gold Club on the 10^th February which will be attended by representatives of the tea industry, brokers and traders from Chittagong, Colombo, Mombasa, Guwahati, Siliguri, Cochin, Coonoor and Coimbatore auction centres.