Six fold increase annually since the signing of the FTA:

Lanka - India trade increases

Jayasri JAYAKODY

Trade between India and Sri Lanka is annually increasing six folds since the signing of the FTA between the two countries.

" In 2007, trade between the two countries was of 3.3 billion dollars worth," Counselor-Economic and Commercial, Indian High Commission, Santosh Jha said.

Speaking on 'Indo - Sri Lanka Trade Relations' at the Sri Lanka business visitor promotion for 'Plastindia 2009 7th International Plastics Exhibition', he said that some 1400 plastic items come under the FTA.

"However Sri Lankan businessmen are slow on the uptake, as they are importing only about 200 plastic items from India presently."

He further said that more Sri Lankan visitors and participants are expected for the Plastindia 2009 this year.

The Sri Lanka business visitor promotion for Plastindia 2009, the 7th International Plastics Exhibition and Conference to be held in New Delhi, India from February 4 to 9, was held in Colombo on Friday.

Plastindia 2009 is an international plastic exhibition and conference organised by the Plastindia Foundation of India tri-annually.

This six-day mega event will offer an ideal meeting place for buyers and sellers, to enhance their business prospects, to establish strategic alliances and technology transfer, among other matters of importance.

It will also serve as the ideal meeting place for the entire plastic community of the globe. Over 1000 Indian companies and 400 international exhibitors are scheduled to take part in this event.

Highlights of Plastindia 2009 will be Proplast an exclusive display of finished products spread across an area of 11,000 sq.mts, Interactive Summits, the Plasticon Awards Ceremony and the many international conferences.

Many business and industry leaders and representatives from the Sri Lankan plastics community were present at this event.