Amanullah Khan
Thursday, December 13, 2012 | Pakistan
Observer
Thursday, December 13, 2012 - Karachi
—Consul General of Sri Lanka in Karachi, D.W. Jinadasa, has said that there is
a potential of import of cheaper hides of buffalo and
cows and Pakistani leather exporters can avail this
opportunity.
Speaking as chief guest at Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) is
efforts are being made to improve bilateral trade
between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, as a vast potential exists to enhance trade ties between the two countries.
S.L Diplomat said that leather export from Pakistan to Sri Lanka is negligible
and stands less than $5 million and could be enhanced.
He invited the PTA delegation to visit Expo 2013 being held in Colombo in February 8-10, and display their products to fetch orders from SL buyers. Jinadasa said that Sri Lanka was the first country to sign FTA with Pakistan. He pointed out that his government’s policies are liberal and Pakistani exporters could exploit the opportunities at the maximum level. He said that positive trends have emerged in this regard during the last four to five years and that the bilateral trade volume increased last year to over $350 million.
He invited the PTA delegation to visit Expo 2013 being held in Colombo in February 8-10, and display their products to fetch orders from SL buyers. Jinadasa said that Sri Lanka was the first country to sign FTA with Pakistan. He pointed out that his government’s policies are liberal and Pakistani exporters could exploit the opportunities at the maximum level. He said that positive trends have emerged in this regard during the last four to five years and that the bilateral trade volume increased last year to over $350 million.
Speaking on the occasion President India-Pakistan Chambers of Commerce
and Industry, S M Muneer said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka are enjoying very
cordial relations due to liberal visa
policies and trade ties between the two countries are improving. He emphasized
to boost leather and leather products’ export to Sri Lanka. Chairman Diplomatic
Affairs Committee of PTA, Gulzar Firoz said that export of leather and leather
products from Pakistan to Sri Lanka during 2011-12 stood at only $2.795 million
as against $3.383 million last year showing a decrease of 17.38 per cent. He emphasized the need to exchange trade
delegations and holding single country exhibitions
from both sides in order to improve bilateral trade. He said that despite the
fact that both the countries are having friendly relations and liberal visa
policy yet the bilateral trade is not much encouraging. He said that PTA will
form a delegation to visit Sri Lanka in near future.
Vice Chairman PTA (SZ), Abrar Ahmed said on the occasion that very cheap
hides of buffalo is available in Sri Lanka and Pakistani leather manufacturers
could avail this facility to overcome shortage of raw material.
