India has appointed seven persons to the joint task force that is to supervise two Special Manufacturing Export Zones (SEZs). “The list of appointees was shared with the Government of Sri Lanka before Anand Sharma, India’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles, left the country,” Economic and Commerce Counsellor for Indian High Commission Shri Manish [...]

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Trade hub to figure in Sri Lanka-India talks

By Charundi Panagoda
Sri Lanka team will be a close counterpart of Indian team to oversee special manufacturing zones here
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India has appointed seven persons to the joint task force that is to supervise two Special Manufacturing Export Zones (SEZs).
“The list of appointees was shared with the Government of Sri Lanka before Anand Sharma, India’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles, left the country,” Economic and Commerce Counsellor for Indian High Commission Shri Manish told the Sunday Times. “We have appointed government and private sector persons, including officials from Indian industry and commerce ministries, vice-chairman of Ashok Leyland, and representatives from auto-components manufacturing, as well as the pharmaceutical industries,” Mr Manish said.

The idea of the two Special Manufacturing Export Zones was proposed by Anand Sharma as a step towards helping to double the volume of trade between India and Sri Lanka to USD10 billion by 2015. Sri Lanka is to set up its own team to the joint task force. Appointments will be made “very soon,” Industry and Commerce Ministry Secretary Anura Siriwardena told the Sunday Times. “Our task force combination will be similar to that of the Indian team.”

The Sri Lanka team will comprise 10 to 12 members.“This task force will basically move forward the package of proposals or ideas that came out of Mr. Sharma’s visit,” said Department of Commerce Deputy Director Nimal Karunathilake. “Mr. Sharma had several proposals, including setting up a pharmaceutical hub in Sri Lanka and partnering in the manufacture of automobile components. These are different areas of discussion that will be taken up one by one by the joint task force to decide on a roadmap on how to proceed.”

The first step towards setting up the pharmaceutical hub began with the arrival of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL) delegation on August 15.Discussions are to begin within 10 days, said the Indian High Commission’s Mr. Manish. Meanwhile the Indian textile delegation will be visiting between September 18 and 22.
“The Indian and Sri Lankan Commerce Secretaries will discuss all trade-related issues between the two countries and how to move forward on economic issues,” Mr. Manish said. “It might be called the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement again, or it might not.”

Because of opposition from local trade groups, who said the trade agreement would not be in the best interests of local businesses, Sri Lanka did not sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

“In fact, Sri Lanka has made it very clear to the Indian side that CEPA has raised serious concerns, especially among domestic stakeholders,” said Department of Commerce Deputy Director Mr. Karunathilake. “We would like to see some kind of confidence and enhancement of the commercial sector in the future. At present, our position is to address current issues regarding trade.”
Although the two countries will not be renegotiating the CEPA, a Cabinet-appointed Inter-agency Committee is reviewing the agreement.

“Our priority right now is to address current issues to facilitate trade and build confidence among business communities,” Mr. Karunathilake said. “Whatever we do as a government must ultimately benefit the business community. By addressing the matter this way, we can get India’s support and cooperation.”




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