Category: Trade
APTA countries agree to widening tariff concessions by mid 2017
Jan 17, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka along with other members of Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) last week agreed to sign the protocol to conclude the 4th round of concessions which are to be implemented by 1st July 2017. The 4th round of tariff concessions has widened the coverage of preferences of total tariff […]
Trade deficit narrows in Sept, cumulative exports down 3pct
Jan 13, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit narrowed in September 2016 with an increase in export earnings for the second consecutive month, together with a reduction in import expenditure. Earnings from exports grew by 5.7 per cent to 898 million dollars in September, compared with 850 million dollars in the same month in […]
‘s GSP+
Jan 11, 2017 (LBO) – The European Commission said it proposed to the European Union to remove significant import duties on Sri Lankan products, to restore GSP Plus trade access to Europe’s export market. “The Commission today proposed that a significant part of the remaining import duties on Sri Lankan products should be removed by the […]
Hambantota port proceeds to be used to pay-off higher interest loans: Ravi
Jan 05, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government is planning to use Hambantota port proceeds to pay off higher interest loans which have already been taken, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. Karunanayake told reporters Thursday that the expected value of 1.1 billion US dollars will be initially used to pay off the loans taken at […]
Ten Value Addition Centres for fruits and vegetables to be built
Jan 04, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government is to establish ten Value Addition Centres adjacent to farms in public-private partnership with processing, packing and storing facilities. Co-cabinet spokesman Gayantha Karunathilaka told reporters Wednesday the government has taken steps to facilitate local farmers and entrepreneurs to export vegetables and fruits targeting foreign markets conforming to […]
‘s share of Chinese FDI going into Asia low: policy paper
Dec 30, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka, which runs a trade deficit with China, should aim to increase the island’s share of Chinese FDI going into Asia, a policy paper by the Lakshaman Kadirgamar Institute says. The paper argues that Sri Lanka’s relatively low rank among China’s economic partners challenges some claims about China’s contributions […]
Vehicle registrations edge higher in November: JB Securities
Dec 26, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka vehicle registrations edged higher in November compared with October, on most categories, likely driven by pre-budget demand, JB Securities said in a research note. Three-wheelers and hybrids showed higher registrations, while one Rolls Royce Wraith was registered in the luxury car segment. But vehicle registrations were down sharply […]
Sri Lanka exporters await confirmation of RAMIS
Dec 09, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Exporters Association, which represents a majority of the island’s exporters, has urgently called upon the Finance Ministry to confirm that RAMIS will be fully implemented, and that it will be operational by January 2017. Paperless SVAT system provided exporters with a significant level of relief towards the constraints […]
‘s trade potential
Dec 02, 2016 (LBO) – U.S. and Sri Lankan officials have held three seminars on trade policy to unleash the island’s trade potential, a statement said. The U.S. Department of State, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Sri Lanka’s Department of Commerce held these seminars with more than 70 decision makers and […]
Sri Lanka establishes resident mission in Ethiopia
Nov 28, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has established a resident mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to broaden ties with the nation located in the Horn of Africa. “With a view to broadening political, trade and economic relations with Ethiopia and also forge closer relations with the African Union (AU) that is headquartered in Addis […]
SL-China trade crosses USD4bn, 93-pct imports from China
Nov 23, 2016 (LBO) – Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and China has crossed the 4 billion US dollar threshold for the first time last year, the industry and commerce minister revealed. The total trade turnover between Sri Lanka and China which was at 659 million US dollars in 2005, has surged to 4 billion […]
EU-Sri Lanka launch EUR 8mn project for SME trade competitiveness
Nov 16, 2016 (LBO) – The European Union has launched a 8 million euro project that will help Sri Lanka increase its small and medium enterprise trade competitiveness in regional and European markets. “This project has been jointly designed with the Government of Sri Lanka, and brings together policymakers, government agencies, business leaders, chambers of […]