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| Friday, 30 July 2004 |
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Lanka, Italy trade ties to be strengthened By Sudarshana Perera Trade ties between Sri Lanka and Italy are to be further strengthened following Sri Lanka's exports to Italy recording an impressive growth of Rs. 11,206 million for the year 2003 compared to Rs 6,791 million in the previous year. Sri Lankan exporters are to be given further preferred status by the Italian Government to facilitate export business to that country and to attract more possible investments to Sri Lanka. The balance of trade recorded Rs 604 million last year. The main items exported to Italy included live plants, coconut, value added coconut products, tea and value added tea, Tobacco, Rubber, Garments, accessories, tableware, kitchenware, and precious stones. Imports recorded a staggering Rs 11,819 million in 2003 compared to Rs 7,992 million in 2002. First Secretary and Deputy Head of Mission, Dr. Massimo Darchini told the annual general meeting of the Sri Lanka-Italy Business Council that his country would do everything possible to further develop trade ties between the two countries and added that there has been a 35% increase in business visas from Sri Lanka to Italy while the number of Italian tourists visiting Sri Lanka is also on the rise. "Sri Lanka should get closer to the rest of the world before globalisation and as envisaged in the recent Economic Policy Statement of the government, we would extend our fullest cooperation to attract more Italian investments in the country", Dr Darchini said. Chairman of the Sri Lanka-Italy Business Council, Sunil Wijesinha said that in order to foster trade ties, the council has launched a new website www.slitbc.lk with a member directory. The newsletter "Ciao" is also another innovative approach taken in this regard. "We will continue to play a pivotal role to facilitate more business between the two countries and to make a wider link with other associations to achieve our objective", Wijesinha said. Inaugurated under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in 1998 the Sri Lanka-Italy Business Council promotes investment, trade and joint ventures between Sri Lanka and Italy as its main objective. The Business Council continues to collaborate with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in achieving the objective of strengthening bilateral ties and promoting investment and joint venture partnerships. |
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