Indo-Lanka trade balloons to US$ 2 billion
Ruwanthi Abeyakoon
BILATERAL TRADE: The two-way trade operating under the
Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA) has reached almost US$ 2.0
billion, representing a staggering increase of nearly 80% in the
bilateral trade between India and Sri Lanka.
"India and Sri Lanka has maintained a healthy relationship in the
commercial sector and the growth of the trade should be measured
considering the quality and the quantity.
Beginning with the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), our exporters can
identify the ways of supplying goods and services to the markets
emerging in the other countries in every aspect," Enterprise Development
and Investment Promotion Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said yesterday at
a seminar on 'Exports to India and Pakistan markets under the FTA'.
Minister pointed out that ISFTA has become a major activity while FTA
with Pakistan is just off the ground heading towards a positive
development. "Both the countries are rich in consumer interest. Sri
Lanka has opened up positively in deed and in spirit to FTA and has
become the third largest importer of Indian goods ," Minister explained.
Minister added that the investors should take advantage of the zero
rated arrangements.
"They should not only export our products but also make use of the
raw materials in producing novel goods.
FTA will help to build up the political connectivity in enhancing
this trade. Exporters' confidence will generate higher values and people
will benefit through this trade," Minister said.
"The rural sector has land and resources and Indian and Pakistani
investors can harness these resources.
Sri Lanka should also take the opportunity in promoting their
products in Qatar and Dubai as the supply was contracted due to the Gulf
war. The private sector should also be involved in this," he said.
Minister also added that it is expected that the trade between Sri Lanka
and Pakistan would increase with products traded being diversified in
the near future.
The Deputy Director, Department of Commerce Nimal Karunathilake said
that there are about 4,000 products that can be exported duty free.
"At present there is an imbalance in the trade but the import-export
ratio has been improving to the advantage of our country. We are trying
to minimise this imbalance. Then we can move beyond FTA offering
services together with goods," he said.
He also said that several development methods are due to be
implemented under the FTA with both India and Pakistan. |