Pavithra at UAE National Day: SL-UAE Business Council for bi-lateral trade/economic ties

By Sandun A Jayasekera 

Initiatives have been taken to form a Sri Lanka – UAE Business Council to promote bilateral trade and economic ties as the United Arab Emirates, is one of the major partner of investment, trade and human resources supply of Sri Lanka, Health, Indigenous Medicine, Social Empowerment, Women and Children Welfare Minister, Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.  
Sri Lanka’s trade and economic relations with the UAE has been increasing in the recent past. The total trade turnover has been in the range of US$ 1.9 billion last year. The UAE is one of the Sri Lanka’s top 10 export destinations and total exports to the UAE in 2018 was $290 million. Tea was the major export item from Sri Lanka to the UAE in 2018. The value of tea exported to the UAE amounted to US$ 48.03 Million representing around 16.59% of the total exports, she added.   

Participating as the Chief Guest on the occasion of celebrating the 48th National Day of the UAE, Minister Wanniarachchi said the new government formed, under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will continue to follow a non-aligned foreign policy under the motto of “friendship with all, enmity with none”. We will be holding the 2nd Sri Lanka –UAE Joint Commission in Colombo during the course of next year.   

“Due to good air connectivity via Emirates, Etihad, SriLankan, Air Arabia and Fly Dubai airlines which fly between Sri Lanka and the UAE, the UAE holiday makers are very much interested in visiting Sri Lanka. On the other hand, the UAE is also gradually becoming an important holiday destination for upper middle class Sri Lankans and there is an increase in tourist flows from Sri Lanka to the UAE,” she added.   

“We have already signed several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding with the UAE and look forward to conclude some other pending bilateral treaties in different other fields including Education, Manpower, the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investment etc. I would like to convey Sri Lanka’s best wishes for the successful conclusion of Expo 2020 in Dubai from 20th October 2020 to 10th April 2021 under the theme “concerning minds, creating the future and building partnership fit for the 21st century,” Minister Wanniarachchi stressed. Sri Lanka as a country which upholds principles of equality and justice, it seeks collective efforts at international fora, addressing current global challenges and making peace, development, and progress in the world, while representing Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, territorial integrity. 

Sri Lanka as a country which upholds principles of equality and justice, it seeks collective efforts at international fora, addressing current global challenges and making peace, development, and progress in the world, while representing Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, territorial integrity.