Press release

National Chamber bilateral session with the UK High Commissioner

High Commissioner of UK will be the special guest speaker at a  session on “Bilateral Trade between Sri Lanka and UK “ on Wednesday 29 October 2014  from 3.00 p.m to 4.30 p.m at the Chamber Auditorium  No  450 D.R. Wijewardene  Mawatha, Colombo  10. The High Commissioner will be accompanied by Mr Gary Leslie, UK Head of Trade and Investment of the UK High Commission. They will speak on the current business trend, trade potential, opportunities for export, import, investment/ demand items and other services available for Sri Lankans. Participants will get an opportunity to interact with the High Commissioner and officials from the High Commission   and get information on the relevant areas.

According to the Dept of Commerce, UK is Sri Lanka’s second biggest export market after USA recording total export of US$ 1,112 Mn. in 2011.

Sri Lanka exports to UK -apparel, clothing accessories, rubber, tea, gems and jewellery, coir products, ceramics fruits, vegetables, toys etc. Sri Lanka imports from UK-, iron and steel, machinery and parts, beverages and spirits, pharmaceutical, fabrics  , plastic products are some of the items imported from U.K

Prospective investors from UK have shown interest in investing in projects in the fields of manufacturing fishing boats, processed food, cotton yarn, apparel, BPO operations, tourism and power generation etc.

The BOI has identified the following sectors as the target areas for promotion of FDI from UK, Tourism related, Textile and accessories, Metal working and light engineering, Electronics, IT & IT enable services, Infrastructure development, Training institutions, Business Process Outsourcing, Power generation.

Major potential items that can be exported to UK are – Knitted & Woven Garments, tea, Live Fish and frozen fish, Rubber tyres, Rubber Gloves, Spices, Coconut Fibre, Desiccated Coconut, Gem and Jewellery, Fruit and vegetable.  For reservation of the seminar kindly contact chamber 4741788 Mrs Fouad or email sg@nationalchamber.lk; pa@nationalchamber.lk.

                                                *********