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| Friday, 16 July 2004 |
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Lanka to strengthen business links with South Africa by Irangika Range The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka High Commission in South Africa with local exporters will participate in the "12th South African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX)" to be held in South Africa from October 5 to 8. An official from the EDB said this major international trade fair held annually in South Africa would provide opportunities for local manufacturers and service providers. "This is also an annual meeting location to observe the newest trends and the latest developments in the export sector," he said. "It is important to participate in the exhibition because South Africa is the largest trade market for Sri Lanka. Local participants can gain more benefits to strengthen the present business links, to build new trade links in the South African market, identify new technology and obtain first-hand information on market trends," he said. "Local participants at SAITEX have executed orders amounting to Rs. 152 million from local products and services such as brassware, rubber and coir products, wooden toys and aquarium fish in 1994,1995 and 1996," he said. He said the total exports of local products and services to South Africa were Rs. 1,245.8 million in 2003 while it was Rs. 993.3 million in 2002. Sri Lanka's exports to South Africa are mainly rubber products, tea, coconut, food, fabricated metal, chemical, plastic products garments and textiles while Sri Lanka's imports from South Africa are asbestos, silicon and steel, papers and paper board, fruits and sugar. Total imports amounted to Rs. 2,166.3 million in 2003 while it was Rs. 1,846 in 2002. "EDB will provide 100 percent free of cost facility for stall rental to SME companies while it will provide 50 percent free cost facility to large scale companies. Six local companies would exhibit a range of products from tea, spices and essential oils, to light engineering products, electrical components, processed food, footwear and travel goods, coconut and coconut fibre products, apparel and clothing accessories, rubber products, tyres and tubes, toys, gifts and handicrafts, ceramic and porcelain products," he said. |
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