Africa’s Switzerland hunting for Sri Lanka trade for the first time

Asian Tribune - 06/05/2014

Bothata Tsikoane, the New Delhi based High Commissioner of Lesotho (left) discusses with Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka-right) on 25 April in Colombo.

The only country in the world to be entirely surrounded by another country and also called as Africa’s Switzerland, signaled on 25 April for the first time that it is now ready to initiate multi-faceted bilateral ties with Sri Lanka. “We can begin our bilateral trade with Ceylon Tea exports to Lesotho. Then we can proceed to agriculture cooperation” said an upbeat Bothata Tsikoane, the New Delhi based High Commissioner of Lesotho for Sri Lanka on 25 April in Colombo.

Bothata Tsikoane was addressing Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka) on 25 April at EDB in Colombo during his first courtesy call made on Minister Bathiudeen.

Lesotho to begin economic ties with tea, rice imports

Lanka Business Today - 05/05/2014

The only country in the world to be surrounded by another country and also described as Africa’s Switzerland, is now to initiate multi-faceted bilateral ties with Sri Lanka.

“We can begin our bilateral trade with Ceylon Tea exports to Lesotho. Then we can proceed to agriculture cooperation” said an upbeat Bothata Tsikoane, the New Delhi based High Commissioner of Lesotho for Sri Lanka.

The Lesotho envoy made these observations while meeting Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka on 25 April at the Export Development Board offices in Colombo during his first courtesy call made on Minister Bathiudeen.

Sri Lanka exports up 5.4-pct in February, imports fall

Lanka Business Online - 05/05/2014

Sri Lanka's exports rose 5.4 percent in February 2014 from a year earlier, with apparel exports up 6.6 percent, while imports fell amid weak credit growth, official data showed.

In the first two months of the year exports were up 13.9 percent to 1,739 million US dollars, the Central Bank said.
Agricultural exports rose 15.3 percent to 201.2 million US dollars with tea up 11.7 percent to 115.6 million US dollars.

Fadna Cinnamon Tea gets certification of Pure Ceylon Cinnamon

Daily Finance Times - 05/05/2014

The Fadna Cinnamon Tea, produced and distributed by Food and Nature Company was recently awarded the Pure Ceylon Cinnamon Quality certificate by Sri Lanka Export Development Board. This certification which is awarded only for highest quality export products is granted on the recommendation of a committee of experts appoined by the SLEDB. Here Minister of Industries and Commerce Rishard Bathiudeen awards the certificate to the Marketing Manager of the Food and Nature Company, Udara Mangala at a ceremony at the SLEDB

Certificate Course in Packaging Technology - 2014

Sri Lanka, Bahrain launch business forum

Colombo Page - 30/04/2014
Photos by Sudath Silva

Sri Lanka and Bahrain Tuesday inaugurated the Bahrain-Sri Lanka Business Forum at the headquarters of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in Manama.

A large gathering of prominent business leaders from both Sri Lanka and Bahrain participated in the Forum that consisted of business-to-business meetings and a visit to the Bahrain International Investment Park.

Legitimacy 'ensuring Bahrain's success'

Gulf Daily News - 30/04/2014

Legitimacy is the single all-encompassing characteristic that makes Bahrain business-friendly, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro said yesterday.

Speaking at the opening of the Bahrain-Sri Lanka Business Forum at Beit Al Tijjar, Dr Fakhro said legitimacy meant that Bahrain embraced the rule of law, and authorities strived to be the best at what they do, whether it be in terms of laws and regulations, domestic and international policies, or simply in the way that individuals were respected irrespective of ethnicity and the principles of a truly secular state were upheld.

"It is this legitimacy that has underpinned Bahrain's rise as an important financial centre, and helped in avoiding the contagion felt across the globe during the financial crisis," he said.