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| Sunday, 2 June 2002 |
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EDB to promote exports to Maldives The Export Development Board (EDB) organised a seminar and initial business meetings with a Maldivian delegation recently, with the objective of promoting exports and joint ventures. R. Sivaratnam, Chairman, EDB said: "In 1993, ties between Sri Lanka and Maldives took a major step forward with the setting up of the Sri Lanka Trade Centre in Male by the EDB in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since the establishment of this Centre, Sri Lanka's exports to the Maldives have increased from US$ 8.63 million in 1993 to US$ 34.47 million in 2001. L.S.G. Tillekeratne, Director-General of the EDB said Sri Lanka ranks second among exporters to Maldives. The balance of trade is in favour of Sri Lanka. He further stated that it has to be a two-way stream and that a give and take policy should be adopted. Sri Lanka's main export products to the Maldives for 2001 included woven fabrics, garments, fruits and vegetables, processed food, beverages, electronic products, pharmaceutical products and porcelain products. Sri Lanka's major imports for 2001 included apparels, Maldive fish, flour, dried fish, sugar and mechanical appliance parts, an EDB news release said. Although 438 Sri Lankan companies had exported to the Maldives last year, 82 per cent of these exports have been made by 25 exporters. Likewise, though 118 Sri Lankan companies had imported from the Maldives, 95 per cent of these imports had been made by 25 companies. There are new prospects for expansion of trade between the two countries. They are tourism-related products and services, organic food products, herbal products, ayurvedic medicinal services, IT-related services, educational services and financial services. Mohamed Latheef, Executive Board Member of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce said: "Sri Lanka could be a gateway to other SAARC countries, specially India. So we must explore possibilities for joint ventures." One-to-one business meetings with the Maldivian delegation and Sri Lankan exporters were organized by the EDB. The 20 members of the delegation were mainly interested in tea, spices, prawns, fish, lobsters, beverages, garments, aroma therapy and health spa, pharmaceuticals and handicraft. Eighty one Sri Lankan companies attended initial business meetings and seminars and more than 100 business contacts were made among Maldivian and Sri Lankan business people. Sri Lankans and Maldivians had trade and investment interest in a wide range of products and services. Trade negotiations have taken place in areas such as real estate development, tourism, hotels, fish canning and exporting, printing and publishing. |
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