The Excise Department has targeted US$ 50 million next year (2023) by exporting high quality local toddy-based liquor products manufactured from palmyrah, kithul and coconut. Local liquor manufacturing companies earned US$ 25 million this year by exporting beer, toddy and high quality locally manufactured liquor products, Commissioner General of Excise, M.J. Gunasiri told the Sunday Observer.
He said the local liquor products had been exported to 35 countries. Last year, US$ 22 million had been earned for the country by these liquor-manufacturing companies. Tax free concessions to the tune of Rs. 3,600 million had been granted to encourage exporters.
The Excise Department has introduced internationally-accepted guidelines and criteria for manufacturing companies engaged in this production process to ensure the quality and standards of these products, he added.