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Sri Lanka, Australia in inaugural TIFA talks
View(s):Inaugural talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between Sri Lanka and Australia, was held last week in Canberra, at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
This is the first bilateral discussion to take place after the TIFA was signed in Colombo on Nov.2, 2017, during the visit of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The agenda encompassed discussions on economic reforms and cooperation, free trade and regional trade agreement agendas, market access and investment facilitation and sector specific opportunities for investment in both countries.
These discussions are expected to pave the way for regular review of trade and investment matters of bilateral interest and further discussion between stakeholders of the two countries, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
First Assistant Secretary, South and West Asia Branch of DFAT, Ms Kathy Klugman, led the Australian delegation which also included officials from Austrade, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and Export Finance and Insurance Cooperation, as well as the Australian High Commission in Colombo.
The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade W.A.D. Gunasinghe, including FTAs Chief Negotiator K.J. Weerasinghe, and other senior officials.