GL calls for Govt to nurture export sector development

NUWARA ELIYA: The Government should nurture the development of the export sector which could be termed as the core element of the whole economy for economic progress, Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said.

The Minister was speaking at a meeting of farmers from the Nuwara Eliya district at the old Kachcheri building.

It was convened to inform farmers of the need to grow green peas locally and the profitability of such a venture and to distribute seeds and offer technical advice with regard to green peas cultivation.

The Export Development Board (EDB) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Golden Star (Pvt) Ltd., for a green peas cultivation project in the Nuwara Eliya district which also includes a processing factory to be built at a cost of Rs. 6.5 million. The EDB has contributed Rs. 3.25 million.

Under this scheme, farmers are expected to earn a net profit of Rs. 60 per kilo of green peas. The project is launched with the intention of reducing the amount of foreign exchange spent on importing green peas into Sri Lanka and promoting the cultivation of green peas in the country.

Prof. Peiris said the economy played a pivotal role in the progress of a country and that the role of a Government was to identify the problems affecting the economy and offer practical and correct solutions.

“We also live in the age of globalisation and countries should endeavour to expand their trading relations with the widest possible array of countries. Today, even a large or developed country cannot remain in isolation,” the Minister said.

He said Sri Lanka should formulate a complete programme to export, our agricultural products and utilise such income to enhance the farmers’ lives.

He referred to Azerbyjan as a new and promising market for Sri Lankan products.

It has oil money and thus has a great need to import quality stuff, the Minister said.

He also highlighted the need to design a comprehensive plan to produce vegetables, fish and fruits in the country and export such quality products to the world market