Talks to boost Sri Lanka-Pakistan trade begin today

Monday, 4 July 2011 00:25 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka and Pakistan will meet today in Islamabad to review the implementation of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement.

The Sri Lankan delegation will also make an effort to reduce tariff imposed on Sri Lankan agro products and betel leaves in Pakistan.

These are some of the key items for discussion during the 10th session of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission to be held in Islamabad on 4 and 5 July.

The high-level official Sri Lankan delegation for Joint Economic Commission left Colombo on the morning of 2 July.

The delegation, which includes Ministry of Industries and Commerce Secretary Tilak Collure, Director General of Commerce Gomi Senadhira and representatives from the Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be led in Islamabad by Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen. 

Currently, bilateral trade between the two countries stands at US$ 346 million. During his visit to Colombo in December 2010, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed Pakistan’s strong interest to increase bilateral trade to US$ 1 billion levels.

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