IPS Researcher Co-Authors Study on Market Potential for Ceylon Tea GI

Dilani Hirimuthugodage, Research Economist at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS), has co-authored a study examining the market potential and policy relevance of Geographical Indication (GI) protection for Ceylon Tea, published in the Advances in Biological Sciences Research series by Atlantis Press.

Titled “Market Potential for Ceylon Tea Geographical Indication: An Economic and Policy Assessment,” the study analyses Sri Lanka’s tea export performance using international trade data, market penetration, revealed comparative advantage analysis, and legal and policy review. The research highlights that while Ceylon Tea enjoys strong global recognition, Sri Lanka remains heavily reliant on traditional markets and bulk exports, leaving significant untapped potential in non-traditional markets such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom especially for value-added and consumer-packaged tea.

The study, co-authored with Delphine Marie-Vivien of the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), France, and Malithi Ama, former Project Officer at IPS, emphasises that GI recognition and registration can serve as a strategic policy and branding tool to safeguard product authenticity, improve quality assurance, and strengthen governance across the tea value chain. Strengthening GI protection, particularly in markets with established legal frameworks, can support the repositioning of Ceylon Tea as a premium, origin-certified product and contribute to more sustainable export growth. This publication is part of the research and recommendations made by IPS under the Implementing Geographical Indication (GI) System for Ceylon Tea project.