Sri Lanka-Pakistan trade escalates

Pakistan and Sri Lanka made US$ 246.17 million trading in 2008 compared to US$ 128.49 million in 2004.

The main export product from Sri Lanka to Pakistan is rubber and rubber products and it was 36.96 percent in 2008. Copra and Betel leaves held the second and third place in the list of main items exported to Pakistan with 18.06 percent and 10.61 percent. This was revealed at the seminar on bilateral trade discussions with the Pakistan High Commission at the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka yesterday. High Commission of Pakistan, third Secretary (Political and Commercial), Mariam Saeed said cotton and potatoes are in the top of the list of imported items to Sri Lanka from Pakistan under the FTA.

"Sri Lanka imported US$ 76.01 million worth of cotton and US$ 15.21 million worth of potatoes last year. The first review meeting of the Joint Committee on the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement was held in 2007. Finding possible trade products between the two countries that are at the same time beneficial to the two parties could be suggested to strengthen the bilateral links.

The two countries can have a round table discussion on the possibilities of trading cheapest and necessary commodities between the two countries, High Commission of Pakistan Head of Chancery, Bilal Akram Shah said. HP