$ 689 mn trade between Hong Kong and Lanka in 2012

Indunil Hewage

HKTDC, Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau presenting a token of appreciation to Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen. Picture by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa

Sri Lanka’s exports to Hong Kong has slightly decreased during the past five years for reasons unknown from $143 million in 2008 to $ 105 million in 2012, said Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) Acting Chairman Dr.Yousuf Maraikkar.

Hong Kong is Sri Lanka’s 19th trading partner in terms of exports and bi-lateral trade between two countries. The performance has however been fluctuating in the recent past. In 2012, bi-lateral trade between Sri Lanka and Hong Kong stood at $ 689 million. Sri Lanka’s major exports to Hong Kong are tea, gems and jewellery, garments, frozen fish, paper, plastic products and electronic equipment. Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said Hong Kong is one of the leading international investors in Sri Lanka and some 63 Hong kong projects are in operation in Sri Lanka under the Board of Investment.

“There is a vast unrealized trade potential between the two countries which we need to jointly explore, we believe that we can leverage the globalized financial centre expertise of Hong Kong to strengthen our financial and investment sector, then our sector can expand to a world class level,”the minister said.