Wednesday, 23rd September 2014
As bilateral trade jumped by 67%, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have begun exploring the possibility of a historic Free Trade Agreement on September 22 in Colombo. And while it would be the first ever FTA for Bangladesh, for Sri Lanka, it is no less than a single entry-point for a huge regional economic corridor.
"There are so many sectors where both countries have their own comparative advantages-in some Sri Lanka is strong, in some others, Bangladesh is strong. I hope that this Free Trade Agreement-at least, the possibility of signing it, will bring the two countries closer. I believe that discussions and planning of these two days would indicate as to how we can start negotiations for the FTA" said a keen Manoj Kumar Roy (Additional Secretary (FTA), Ministry of Commerce of Bangladesh and Leader of the Visiting Delegation) in Colombo.
Bangladeshi Additional Secretary Kumar Roy was addressing the second Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Trade that began in Colombo on 22 September. The first meeting of the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade was held in Dhaka in February 2014. For the latest session, Bangladeshi Additional Secretary Kumar Roy is leading a five member Bangladeshi delegation to Colombo for the two day talks that are scheduled to end September 23. The Bangladeshi team is joined by FM Borhan Uddin (Acting High Commissioner, High Commission of Bangladesh, Colombo). Sri Lankan team is led by Anura Siriwardena (Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce) and consists of RDS Kumararatne (DG-Department of Commerce) and DoC officials, as well as reps from Sri Lanka Standards Institution, Ministry of Economic Development and Tourist Board, Department of Trade and Investment Policy, Department of Customs, and the EDB.
-Ministry of Industry & Commerce
From : http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=110747
