Top EU delegation in town to discuss GSP Plus

19 January 2016 03:27 am Views - 874

A high profile mission from the European Union (EU) headquarters in Brussels comprising of officials from the European Commission (EC) and European External Action Service (EEAS) will be visiting Sri Lanka from today to January 22, in order to discuss various issues with the government including the General System of Preferences (GSP) Plus. 

On the occasion of this visit, the European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ECCSL) in collaboration with the Apparel Exporters’ Association and Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives will be organising a breakfast seminar on January 22, 2016 at Hilton Colombo Residencies (JAIC) from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The main focus of this seminar will be on the possibility of Sri Lanka regaining the GSP Plus. This event will provide a unique opportunity for the business community to directly interact with the EU’s trade policymakers. For registrations and further information on this seminar you may contact the ECCSL by email: info@eccsl.lk or call Manik on 077-3408569 or Gayashi on 077-3317978.   

One of the key speakers at this event will be Nikos Zaimis – Deputy Head of Unit at the Directorate General for Trade, Sustainable Development and GSP at the EC, who will address the participants on the key features of the GSP Plus scheme, as well as provide an insight into what Sri Lanka needs to do to regain the GSP Plus.

Andreas Julin, the Desk Officer for Sri Lanka at the Directorate General for Trade at the European Commission in Brussels, will speak on EU-Sri Lanka trade. Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha De Silva will speak on the Sri Lankan government’s approach to trade with the EU. International Trade State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe and Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama will be part of the panel of experts at the seminar. 

Hirdaramani Group of Companies Director Mahesh Hirdaramani will speak on the impact of the GSP Plus loss on the apparel sector and the benefits of Sri Lanka regaining the GSP Plus from the private sector perspective. Institute of Policy studies (IPS) Executive Director Dr. Saman Kelegama will provide a policy overview on Sri Lanka’s trade with the EU.