Go Sri Lanka:

UK boost for local garment industry

The Garments of Sri Lanka delegation ‘Go Sri Lanka’ to United Kingdom conducted a successful tour of business appointments with UK buyers for apparel in Manchester and London during November 24, 26 and 27.

The Sri Lanka High Commission’s Trade Division with the Export Development Board, the European Chamber of Commerce and the East Midlands Textile Association organized a series of buyer - seller appointments facilitating the 17-member Apparel Delegation to export a wider range of clothing ranging from women fashionwear, men’s clothing, lingerie to children’s wear to the UK market.

Inaugurating the London program of the exporters at the Marylebone Hotel, attended by prominent representatives of UK business and industry the High Commissioner Justice Nihal Jayasinghe said that the UK being the largest market in the EU with around 30 percent of Sri Lanka’s total apparel exports accounts for 80 percent of Sri Lanka’s total exports to the UK at US$ 1 Bn.

The reliance of employment generation and socio-economic empowerment of rural people on the apparel sector is high and the apparel sector in Sri Lanka is constantly meeting the challenges of competition in the global marketplace with new strategies involving higher value added products, marketing, human resource development, ethical manufacturing and technological innovations.

The dynamism of the apparel industry in Sri Lanka is continually evolving and developing without undue reliance on preferential tariffs. The Garments of Sri Lanka (Go Sri Lanka) delegation has considerably boosted the image of the Garment Industry of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom.

It is the first time over a decade that a major initiative of this nature has been undertaken in the UK particularly to assist the small and medium industries in the apparel sector with a promotional thrust involving a dedicated web site, Go Sri Lanka logo and brochures, publication and apparel media attention. The London College of fashion also contributed in making this event a success.

It is reported that the GO Sri Lanka promotions in Manchester following the ‘Spot Light on Manchester’ event conducted in August this year by the Sri Lanka Mission, London, during the visit of International Trade Minister G.L. Peiris to the UK met with very successful outcomes for the delegation.