Consul General of Sri Lanka, D W Jinadasa has invited the businessmen and traders of Hyderabad to participate in Sri Lanka Expo 2012 being held by Sri Lanka Export Development Board in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce in Colombo from 28th to 30th March.
Speaking at the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, here on Wednesday, he said that Pakistan was the first country, with her Sri Lanka established its diplomatic relations after its independence in 1948. He said that his country's economic growth was an average of more than 5 per cent whereas it crossed 8 per cent growth rate last year despite it had been confronting war for over 20 years.
He further said that there are 15 industrial areas in Sri Lanka and the entire country has been declared as free economy zone. The CG assured the HCCI members of his full co-operation and necessary help for investment in Sri Lanka. Earlier, President Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry Gohar Ullah in his welcome address expressed the hope that reciprocal discussions and interactions would boost the volume of export and import between our two friendly countries.
He thanked the Consul General of Sri Lanka for invitation and assured him that a trade delegation from the HCCI would visit the Sri Lanka Expo 2012. He added that the total import and export figures between two countries were $256 million in 2010, which was gradually increasing. He maintained that there was great demand for Pakistani goods in Sri Lankan markets and Hyderabad could avail these opportunities as it had a large number of textile industries, garments manufacturing units and automobile of 2-3 wheelers, tractors manufacturing and assembling plants
Hyderabad was rich in traditional and non- traditional products such as handicrafts, hand-knitted carpets, readymade garments, hosiery, embroidery, leather products, wooden and brassware marble wares, ornamental tiles etc, he added. Gohar Ullah urged federal and provincial governments to provide full security and protection to foreign investors.