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| Sunday, 4 December 2005 |
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Dutch trade tipped in Lanka's favour by Elmo Leonard Sri Lanka's fourth largest reciprocal trading partner from among the 25-member European Union is the Netherlands. Trade is tipped in the island's favour, deputy head of the Embassy of the Netherlands, Harry J Van Dijk told a seminar on trade and investment opportunities in the EU, recently. Sri Lanka's exports to the Netherlands during the first nine months of 2005 were $70 million, as against imports amounting to $47 million during the same period. Sri Lanka's exports to Holland in 2004 were $104 million, while the European nation's exports here, made up $51 million. Sri Lanka's exports to the Netherlands comprise food and live animals, tea and mate, fish, fresh, chilled or frozen, crude vegetable materials, tobacco and tobacco products, vegetable, textile fibres, waste, manufactured goods, rubber manufactures, textile yarn and woven products, machinery and transport equipment, miscellaneous manufactured articles, clothing and clothing accessories, outer garments and other garments, women's textiles, gentlemen's and boys clothing, according to CBS Netherlands. Sri Lanka's imports from the Netherlands makes up, food and live animals, prepared food, vegetables and fruits, dairy products, tobacco and tobacco products, medical and pharmaceutical products, plastic in primary form, chemical products and materials, paper, paper board and byproducts, textile yarn and woven products, railway vehicles, associated equipment, electrical machinery, specialised machinery and miscellaneous manufactured articles, according to CBS, Netherlands. CBS has identified Sri Lanka's growing export potential in ornamental fish, frozen fish, tuna (fresh and frozen), Van Dijk told a seminar organised by the European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ECCSL). Sri Lanka has the potential to export a range of coconut products such as desiccated coconut, coir twine, door mats, charcoal briquettes and activated carbon, geotextiles, rubberised coir products, coconut cream and milk, Van Dijk said. Sri Lanka has export potential in foliage plants, cut and decorative leaves, water plants, mosses and lichens, orchids, anthuriums, carnations and roses among others, Van Dijk said. Sri Lanka has the potential for the export of tea, pepper, capsicum, cloves, nutmeg, turmeric and curry products and the Dutch imports had been increasing. The Netherlands has potential for Sri Lankan wood and wood based products, gift boxes, pen holders, jewellery boxes, toys, household items, wall hangings, fancy jewellery, exquisite jewellery boxes, letter openers, sweet trays, coir mats, vases, ash trays, spoons, masks, coconut husk and carvings according to studies done by the Netherlands embassy here. Sri Lanka has the potential for exports of rubber gloves (household, industrial, agricultural and medical) solid tyres and a range of rubber products including rubber bands and mats and inner tubes. Sri Lanka can offer the Netherlands entrepreneurs further investment opportunities in agriculture, water management, solid waste management and ship building, Van Dijk said. Potential areas for Dutch investment in Sri Lanka include textiles including dyeing both woven and knitted; high fashion garments; accessories such as buttons, zippers, embroidery, labels, yarn, thread, elastic and high fashion buying offices, Van Dijk said. More information could be obtained from ECCSL, Colombo. |
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