Sri Lanka-China FTA not a blindsided rush- Minister Bathiudeen

nation.lk - 03/11/2013

Rishad Bathiudeen and CNCI delegation at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce on October 31. Gamini Gunasekara (new Chairman, CNCI) is seated second from left next to Minister Bathiudeen

Forthcoming FTA with China is not a blindsided move but is a process involving studies and even relevant stakeholder consultations. “We are still at initial study phase and we will not finalize product lists without consulting Lankan stakeholders such as various chambers and industries,” assured Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka Rishad Bathiudeen to the oldest Industry Chamber in the country on October 31 in Colombo.

Minister Bathiudeen was addressing a delegation led by new Chairman, CNCI Gamini Gunasekara on October 31 at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Also taking part were Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce Anura Siriwardena and additional secretaries, officials of Department of Commerce and CNCI officials.

Tea export earnings reach Rs 142 b upto September

Daily News - 29/10/2013

Sri Lanka’s overall tea export earnings during the period January – September of the year has increased by Rs. 10.6 billion year on year (YoY) to record Rs. 141.9 billion, according to a Forbes and Walker report.

However, overall export volumes in the first nine months of the year has decreased by 1.4 million kg year on year to 234.5 million kg.

The total tea export earnings in August also increased to Rs. 123.1 billion while tea export earnings in September was Rs. 18.5 billion. The volumes decreased by 3.1 million kg to 28.7 million kg.

Lanka moves up in global competitiveness

The Island - 28/10/2013

Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce-left) in discussion with (HE) Cristian Barros (New Delhi based Ambassador of Chile accredited to Sri Lanka-right) during 25 October's presentation at Mt Lavinia Hotel.

Signalling a positive turn for its export diversification moves, Sri Lanka has notched itself up in the latest Global Competitiveness Index. And no less than 22 FTAs have helped Sri Lanka's topmost Southern hemispheric trading partner to lift itself off from a 'backyard GDP' and speed up to one of the best economies in South America today.

"I am pleased to say that Sri Lanka has improved to Rank 65 from its previous 68 in the Global Competitiveness Report 2013-2014. We stand just below Russian Federation in this ranking. The same index says that, Sri Lanka leads among SAARC countries on competitiveness levels" said Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka) on 25 October in Mt. Lavinia.

Reflection of Sri Lanka

news.lk - 22/10/2013

A joint Trade, Tourism and Investment exhibition parallel to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) has been organized to be held from 13th to 17th November at the Janakala Kendraya in Battaramulla in Colombo under the title “Reflection of Sri Lanka”.

This exhibition has been jointly organized by the Ministries of Economic Development, Industry and Commerce and Investment Promotion.  More than 300 Sri Lankan exporters including 75 machinery exporters and 100 technology providers and 200 SMEs will showcase their products at this mega exhibition.

Exports turn around, Lanka enters CHOGM biz runway

Asian Tribune - 23/10/2013

Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce-left), Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena (Minister of Investment Promotion-centre) and Susantha Punchinilame (Deputy Minister of Economic Development) watch a presentation on ‘Reflection of Sri Lanka’ during 22 October’s special presser held at the Ministry of Mass Media and Information, Colombo 5.

An eager Sri Lanka launched the business side of its forthcoming CHOGM -and announced its new export turnaround to a packed presser on 22 October. “I am happy to say that our exports from January to September this year shows an increase of 1.07%, in comparison to the same period in 2012. This shows that, having faced the international market challenges our exports are now gradually strengthening” said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce on 22 October.

Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the official media announcement and special presser on “Reflection of Sri Lanka” held at the Ministry of Mass Media and Information in Colombo 5 on 22 October. Along with Minister Bathiudeen, also present were Susantha Punchinilame (Deputy Minister of Economic Development), Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena (Minister of Investment Promotion), Anura Siriwardena (Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce), Charitha Herath (Secretary, Ministry of Mass Media and Information), officials of Sri Lanka Tourism, BoI, Tea Board, EDB, Gem and Jewellery Authority, and Ministry of Economic Development.

Sri Lanka exports up 10.7-pct in August, imports down

Lanka Business Online - 21/10/2013

Sri Lanka's exports rose 10.7 percent to 917.8 million US dollars in August 2013 from a year earlier, and import dropped 7.7 percent to 1.6 billion US dollars, the Central Bank said.

Export earnings from tea grew 49.3 percent to 142.8 million US dollars and apparel exports barely grew 2.1 percent to 366.5 million US dollars. Rubber products export value dropped 8.0 percent to 77.7 million US dollars.

Imports fell 7.7 percent to 1.6 billion US dollars in August. Consumer goods rose 18.6 percent to 266.6 million US dollars and intermediate goods fell 5.7 percent to 1,017 million US dollars though fuel imports rose 7 percent to 531.3 million US dollars.

‘FTA the biggest leap since ‘52 Rubber Rice pact’- Jianhua, China’s powerful int’l trade Minister

Asian Tribune - 19/10/2013

Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka) and Yu Jianhua, the powerful Deputy International Trade Representative of the Ministry of Commerce of China view Minister Jianhua’s gift to Minister Bathiudeen (silk painting of the Forbidden City) on 17 October in Colombo.

The forthcoming China-Sri Lanka FTA is the biggest development in Sino-Lanka cooperation history since the 1952 Rubber-Rice Pact. And China is keen to see the groundwork on this FTA completed by December this year.

“My mission is to start the China-Sri Lanka FTA process. The forthcoming FTA is the biggest development in China-Sri Lanka bilateral cooperation since the historic 1952 Rubber Rice Pact between the two countries. We expect that the preparatory process of the forthcoming FTA to be completed by December this year. Then we can go to the next stage in 2014, ” said a confident Yu Jianhua, the powerful Deputy International Trade Representative of the Ministry of Commerce of China on 17 October in Colombo.