Despite the economic downturn in Sri Lanka, Thailand is still keen to formulate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka, said Thailand Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Poj Harnpol.
He was speaking at a seminar on “Bilateral Trade and Investment between Thailand and Sri Lanka” hosted by the National Chamber of Commerce at its auditorium on Thursday.
He said that the discussion in this regard is going on and both sides, Sri Lanka and Thailand are keen to move to the next step in the negotiations.
The Ambassador said that Thailand, which has a very progressive agri sector using modern technology, is keen to help Sri Lanka to develop its agri sector.
Strengthening bilateral trade and investment between Sri Lanka and Thailand was discussed in detail at this event.
Some of Sri Lanka’s major export items to Thailand include precious stones (other than diamonds) and semi-precious stones, knitted or crocheted fabrics, wheat or meslin flour, apparel, activated carbon, printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry.
He said that Sri Lankan companies should also actively promote local gemstones in Thailand and the best opportunity to do this is to attend regular mega gem and jewellery shows hosted in Thailand.
Sri Lanka’s major Import Items from Thailand include plastics and articles thereof, smoked sheet rubber, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances, fish, dried, salted or in brine, knitted or crocheted fabrics, natural rubber, white crystalline cane sugar, Portland cement, iron and steel, man-made filament, self-propelled bulldozers, mechanical shovels, excavators, man-made staple fibre, petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, other than crude, prepared animal fodder, preparations of cereals, flour, starch and milk.
President of the National Chamber Nandika Buddhipala outlined the economic background in Thailand and trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.