Export duty on betel to Pakistan slashed from 35 to 20 percent

DUTY REDUCTION: The Sri Lankan delegation led by Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris has been able to reduce the export duty from 35% to 20% which was imposed on betel and also to cancel the quota method which was existing upto now for the betel cultivating farmers in Sri Lanka to benefit more in the exportation of betel to Pakistan, the Ministry of Export Development and International Trade said.

The Pakistani Minister of Commerce Humayun Akthar Khan has decided to grant his concession at the meeting held with Prof. G. L. Peiris and himself.

Prior to the arriving at this decision Sri Lanka only had an annual quota for the exportation of 1,200MT of betel to Pakistan.

According to the new Agreement Sri Lankan exporters will get the ability to export betel without a limit as such. Sri Lanka is the only country to receive this concession so far out of the countries which export betel to Pakistan.