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| Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Lanka, Pakistan FTA to forge closer ties The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, was signe at a ceremony in Islamabad on February 9. The FTA will bring the two SAARC nations closer economically, politically, and culturally. After the FTA was inked, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga told businessmen that the two nations "can now take their economic relations to a higher plane, thus opening a new vista of trade and investment opportunities." She said that the FTA, which will "create a win-win situation for Pakistan and Sri Lanka, was finalised after the visit of Premier Aziz to Colombo who gave political guidance and directives to the officials to finalise all annexes concerned." It is for the benefit of the business community as the FTA removes barriers to trade and provides a legal framework for them to conduct and expand business." After President Kumaratunga's arrival, the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Business Forum (PSLBF) and The Sri Lanka-Pakistan Business Council, which is affiliated to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, the Pakistani Federal Minister, Liaquat Ali Jatoi, and businessmen of the two countries were present. The MoU was signed between Abdul Rauf Tabani, President of PSLBF and Vice Chairman of Aero Asia, and Deva Rodrigo, the Chairman of CCC. Rodrigo, and Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in Pakistan, General Srilal Weerasooriya, also spoke. |
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