GSP Plus issue misquoted, says Italian envoy

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

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The Ambassador for Italy in Sri Lanka Pio Mariani told a post Business Session of the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association, recently that it is unfortunate that the GSP Plus issue has been misquoted and linked to the ongoing political debate of the North.

“We have recognised the Sri Lankan textile industry which had acted in compliance with international conventions on labour. Italy hopes that the GSP Plus scheme will be extended to Sri Lanka.”

He said the process involving the GSP Plus renewal has been spelt out in the European Union. The GSP Plus regime was in the region of $150 million of the total exports of Rs. 3 billion from Sri Lanka.

Referring to investors from Italy, he said despite the old Italian investors being in the country, new investors were few. An italian investor has set up a factory to employ nearly 2,000 employees. It was a sign of trust and confidence placed in the economic capabilities of Sri Lanka.

Textiles have become an important export commodity for the country during the past 30 years. However, due to lack of infrastructure facilities, hyper inflation and bureaucracy, new Italian investors have kept away from Sri Lanka.

The Ambassador for France in Sri Lanka Michel Lummaux said the GSP Plus was signed in 2005 by Sri Lanka to assign, ratify and implement twenty-seven international conventions relating to Governance, Environment, Labour and Human rights.

The EU considers Sri Lanka as a friendly country and France has had cordial relations after it gained independence in 1948. We hope Sri Lanka will be granted the GSP Plus, he said.

Kumar Mirchandani was appointed Chairman of the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association of Sri Lanka.