Business in brief

Lanka's exports to Italy up 61 percent

Exports from Sri Lanka to Italy increased by 61% during the first nine months of 2006. According to statistics the total imports from Sri Lanka to Italy recorded approximately Euro 160 million from January to September 2006.

Apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted were the highest contributor to the imports from Sri Lanka and recorded Euro 64.2 million, a 77% growth during the first nine months of 2006.

85th World Conference of Textiles

The 85th World Conference of Textiles will be held in Colombo in March. The conference is expected to be a flagship event for 2007 in the Sri Lankan MICE calendar. It will attract professionals, academics, industrialists and researchers from the textile industry.

The conference will be a platform to launch scientific discoveries in the textile and apparel sector. Marks and Spencer is the principal sponsor of this conference.

'Gems and Minerals of Sri Lanka'

The Gemmologists Association of Sri Lanka has organised "The Gems and Minerals of Sri Lanka" at the Women's International Club Guildford Crescent, Colombo 7, on February 23 and 24 from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.

The main aim of the exhibition is to share knowledge of the various aspects of the gem industry.

Rough and polished gemstones of different crystal systems, traditional and modern gem cutting and gem testing equipment, model of a gem pit, gem assaying, heat treatment display and other educational material will be on display .

In addition to natural gemstones, there will be a large collection of synthetic and treated gemstones. The exhibition is sponsored by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority.