Call to promote trade between Sri Lanka, Bahrain
Anuradha KODAGODA
Bahrain’s Prime Minister, Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa had said many
business opportunities have been created in Sri Lanka, especially in the
Northern and the Eastern provinces with the dawn of peace and this is
the best time to develop commercial transactions between Sri Lanka and
Bahrain, said Minister of Export Promotion and International and Acting
Minister of Posts and Telecommunication, G.L Peries at a media briefing
on Tuesday.
Three MoUs were signed between the two countries targeting tourism,
trade and investment industries. “It was a necessity to form a Joint
Business Council to create easy access and a trouble-free business
environment between both countries.
We are happy with the visit of the Bahrain delegation and we could
set up the Joint Business Council. We are planning to hold the first
council meeting in December this year,” said the President, Federation
of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) Kosala
Wickramanayake.
“We believe this would be a great opportunity to develop business
opportunities for both countries. The Joint Business Council represents
ten members from each country. The setting up of the business council
would reveal the potential sectors in both countries,” he said.
“Bahrain is the only country which has a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
with USA. Therefore, it would be a good opportunity for Sri Lanka to
establish an international destination in Bahrain to export products and
services to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). They mainly target
garments, porcelain, gem and jewellery and fisheries industries in Sri
Lanka,” Wickramanayake said. |