The Sri Lankan businessmen have expressed interest in Pakistan’s new agricultural policy and have insisted on using the local currency to increase bilateral trade.
The Several countries have set up stalls at the T-Dop exhibition of food and agriculture-related goods in Karachi, including Sri Lanka, whose president played a role in brokering the Pakistan-IMF deal.
The Sri Lankan Consul General in Karachi Jagath Abiorna visited the exhibition and while talking to this correspondent said that the two countries have brotherly relations and have always cooperated with each other globally. This cooperation is also seen in sports and commerce and the close relationship between people is also a reflection of this.
He said that this exhibition is also important in the sense that Pakistan and Sri Lanka are celebrating the 75th anniversary of mutual relations this year.
The economic situation of Sri Lanka, which had defaulted under the burden of debt, improved slightly, so its businessmen were also present here in large numbers. Some were interested in Pakistan’s new agricultural policy, while others were interested in other food items. In honor of these businessmen, the Consul General of Sri Lanka also hosted a dinner in which prominent personalities of Karachi’s business community were also present.
The Kaunda Aliparuma from Ministry of Plantation and Export Agriculture of Sri Lanka and Sanal Moligoda from tea industry said that Ceylon tea has been in high demand in Pakistan for a long time. Based on this goodwill, measures are being taken to increase the export of tea once again.
He said that since Sri Lanka is an island whose land is constantly decreasing due to various reasons, various Sri Lankan companies are investing in the agriculture sector in Myanmar and Indonesia.
Referring to Pakistan’s new agricultural policy, he expressed hope that it could prove to be a game changer for Pakistan and certainly Sri Lanka would also try to take advantage of it.
The Pakistan’s animal farming is also a source of attraction for Sri Lankan traders. Sri Lanka’s Animal Production and Health Department official, Surgeon PG Senivaratna, said that they are trying to cross Sahiwal bulls and Sri Lankan cows so that Sri Lankan cattle can be bred in Sri Lanka. Self-reliance can be promoted by increasing milk production in Lanka.
The Eminent industrialist and chairman of Pakistan Sri Lanka Business Forum Majeed Aziz said that both Pakistan and Sri Lanka should increase trade with neighboring countries and for this should take steps to promote business in local currency so that transactions are easy. Also Sri Lankan companies related to tea should set up tea houses in Karachi.
The business community says that if local currency and barter system is adopted to increase bilateral trade, the volume of Pak-Sri Lankan trade can be increased many times.