The United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka, Lord Hannett of Everton OBE, recently visited the Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development for discussions aimed at further strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.
The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary of the Ministry Gilma Dahanayake, Director General of Commerce Somasena Mahadiulwewa, an official from the British High Commission in Colombo, UK trade officials, and senior officials of the Department of Commerce.
Discussions focused on expanding bilateral trade and increasing utilisation of the United Kingdom’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) by Sri Lankan exporters. Particular emphasis was placed on improving awareness of the scheme’s benefits among exporters, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) outside the Western Province.
The Sri Lankan delegation expressed appreciation for the United Kingdom’s continued support in promoting trade and investment, and highlighted the benefits provided through recent enhancements to the DCTS Rules of Origin introduced in January for apparel products.
Lord Hannett reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening commercial ties with Sri Lanka and underscored the importance of deeper engagement between businesses, government institutions and trade support organisations in both countries.
He also noted the potential for further expansion of bilateral trade and investment, and welcomed continued collaboration to create new opportunities for businesses.
Both sides exchanged views on enhancing trade facilitation, building business confidence, and exploring long term and sustainable market access for Sri Lankan exporters to the UK through deeper economic cooperation, capacity building programmes and closer private sector engagement.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to further strengthen longstanding trade relations and partnerships between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.
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