Indonesia exports tea to Iraq under UN deal

Indonesian companies have exported 3000 tons of tea to Iraq under a scheme to allow Baghdad to import food and are confident of more sales if the UN program is extended, industry sources said on July 21.

The sources said the United Nations had given approval for the export of 4000 tons of Indonesian tea, 3000 tons of which had been shipped over the past two months. The rest was expected to be sent in early August.

The exports are estimated to be worth between 8 and 10million US dollars.

On the other hand, Iraq reiterated that it will not export oil under its oil-for-food deal with the United Nations until the UN approved its new aid distribution plan, Iraqi News agency INA said in a dispatch from New York on July 21.

INA quoted Iraq's UN ambassador Nizar Hamdoun as saying that the submission of the plan was delayed because of the slow pace of work by the UN body which was consulting with Iraq to prepare the plan.